Mine Safety in Question After Chhattisgarh Blast Injures Workers

Tragedy struck the Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district of Chhattisgarh on Monday when an explosion rocked the SECL Chirmiri open cast coal mine, injuring three workers, two of whom are women. The blast happened around 2 pm to 3 pm while a blasting gang was in the process of preparing for a controlled detonation. Reports indicate that the group, consisting of seven to eight workers, was positioning explosives when the incident occurred unexpectedly. Flying debris from the explosion impacted the workers and vehicles present. The injured were swiftly taken to the SECL regional hospital in Kurasia, Chirmiri, and are said to be out of danger and receiving treatment. Initial assessments point towards a possible technical malfunction as the cause of the premature explosion. A thorough investigation has been initiated by SECL to uncover the exact reasons, scrutinizing all aspects from equipment integrity to operational procedures. Safety protocols are being re-evaluated, and operations remain halted at the site.