Mine Explosion in Manendragarh: 3 Injured, Probe Launched

Tragedy struck a coal mine in Chhattisgarh on Monday when an explosion injured three workers, two of whom are women. The blast occurred at the Chirmiri open-cast mine, operated by South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), in the Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district. The incident happened between 2 pm and 3 pm while a team of workers was engaged in preparing for a scheduled blasting operation. Sources within SECL stated that the explosion occurred suddenly as the blasting gang was returning to a safe zone after laying explosives. The force of the blast caused debris to scatter, striking workers and nearby vehicles. The three injured workers, all suffering from minor injuries, were immediately taken to the SECL regional hospital in Kurasia. Their conditions are stable, and medical officials anticipate their quick recovery. While a technical error is suspected as the cause of the unexpected detonation, a comprehensive investigation has been launched. This investigation will scrutinize all potential factors, including equipment malfunction, procedural shortcomings, and human error. Safety protocols are being reviewed, and operations at the site have been paused pending a thorough safety evaluation. The MCB district, where the mine is situated, is about 300 km from Raipur.