At least three workers, including two women, were injured in an explosion at the Chirmiri open-cast coal mine operated by South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) in Chhattisgarh&rsquo;s Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district on Monday afternoon.
According to SECL&rsquo;s Public Relations Officer, Sanish Chandra, the incident occurred between 2 pm and 3 pm during preparations for a routine blasting operation. A group of seven to eight workers was engaged in laying explosives on the coal bed when the blast happened unexpectedly.
Officials said that as the blasting team was moving to a safe distance, an explosion sent rock fragments flying across the site, injuring workers and damaging nearby vehicles. The injured were rushed to SECL&rsquo;s regional hospital in Kurasia, where they are reported to be stable and expected to be discharged soon.
Preliminary findings suggest a possible technical malfunction that triggered the premature blast, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
Authorities have initiated an internal probe to determine whether the explosion resulted from equipment failure, human error, or procedural lapses. Operations at the site have been suspended pending a full safety review. The company&rsquo;s safety department and district administration have been alerted to ensure preventive measures are reinforced across all SECL mines.

Three workers hurt in premature explosion at SECL’s Chirmiri coal mine in Chhattisgarh

Coal Mine Blast Injures Three in Chhattisgarh

Three workers hurt in premature explosion at SECL’s Chirmiri coal mine in Chhattisgarh

October 7, 2025 | 15:42 IST