As Nagpur’s real estate sector continues to scale new heights with luxury apartments and high-rise towers, a grim reality lurks behind the construction boom — unsafe working conditions that have claimed the lives of over a dozen labourers in just the first half of 2025.
Between January and June this year, more than 12 construction workers lost their lives at under-construction sites across the city, according to official data. Most of the deceased were young migrant workers from Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, engaged in hazardous tasks without basic safety provisions.
Working without protection
These workers were reportedly operating without personal protective equipment (PPE) such as harnesses, safety helmets, or gloves. Several sites lacked emergency response systems, fire safety mechanisms, and first aid kits. The leading causes of death included falls from multi-storey structures and electrocution during on-site electrical work.
Despite the serious nature of these incidents, most cases are recorded as accidental deaths. Authorities admit that legal action is rarely pursued, with contractors or developers often settling the matter through compensation to the deceased’s family, thereby avoiding police scrutiny and prosecution.
Police and Labour Department acknowledge lapses
Joint Commissioner of Police Naveenchandra Reddy acknowledged frequent safety violations at construction sites. “The Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Act, 1996, provides clear guidelines to ensure worker safety,” he said. “The Labour Department has laid out detailed protocols for site inspections and safety compliance. However, implementation remains a concern.”
Reddy further added, “In many cases, despite evidence of negligence, the matter is settled out of court with financial compensation offered by builders or contractors.”
Experts demand stricter enforcement
Labour rights groups and safety experts are now calling for urgent measures to address the crisis. These include regular inspections by safety officers, criminal prosecution in cases of gross negligence, and the creation of a public database of workplace accidents to monitor repeat offenders in the construction industry.
With Nagpur emerging as a preferred destination for real estate development, experts warn that growth without accountability may come at the cost of human lives — a price the city can no longer afford to ignore.
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