3 Injured in SECL Mine Blast in Chhattisgarh’s Manendragarh

Tragedy struck a coal mine in Chhattisgarh’s Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district on Monday when an explosion injured three workers, including two women. The incident took place at the Chirmiri open cast mine, operated by South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), around 2 pm to 3 pm. A team of workers was reportedly in the process of preparing for a blasting operation, specifically arranging explosives on the coal seam. Suddenly, a blast occurred before the planned detonation. The force of the explosion propelled rock fragments, which struck the workers and nearby vehicles. The injured individuals were immediately taken to the SECL hospital in Kurasia for treatment and are currently in a stable condition. Officials are investigating the cause, with a technical error being the primary suspect. The company’s safety department and district administration have been alerted, and operations are temporarily halted for a thorough safety review. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by mining personnel and the critical need for continuous safety vigilance.