An unexpected explosion at the Chirmiri open cast coal mine in Chhattisgarh’s Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district has led to injuries for three workers, including two women. The incident, which took place Monday afternoon, occurred while a team was setting up explosives for a planned detonation. The blast happened prematurely, sending rock fragments flying and striking the workers and vehicles present. The injured were quickly taken to the SECL regional hospital in Kurasia, where they are receiving care and are said to be in stable condition. While early indications point towards a possible technical malfunction as the source of the premature explosion, an official inquiry has been initiated to uncover the exact circumstances. The mine’s operations have been halted pending a comprehensive safety review.
