Gujarat records 1,746 construction worker deaths over 18 years; safety gaps continue

By Rajiv Shah  

Marking International Workers’ Memorial Day, fresh data from Gujarat has highlighted a troubling pattern of fatalities and injuries in the construction sector, with activists pointing to weak enforcement of safety norms and rising climate-related risks.

According to information obtained through RTI by Vipul Pandya, General Secretary of the Construction Workers’ Organization, a total of 1,746 construction workers have died and 527 have suffered serious injuries in Gujarat over the past 18 years. The figures indicate an alarming persistence of workplace hazards in one of the state’s fastest-growing sectors.

Between 2021 and 2025 alone, 596 worker deaths were recorded. In 2025, 130 deaths and 17 serious injuries were reported, with nearly 60% of those who died belonging to the 18–35 age group—underscoring the disproportionate toll on young workers.

City-wise, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar reported 24 deaths each, followed by Surat (23), Vadodara (13), and Rajkot (11). However, experts caution that the real numbers could be higher due to incomplete reporting, especially from smaller districts and private healthcare facilities where many injuries go unrecorded.

The data shows that falls from height account for 60% of accidents, making it the leading cause of fatalities. Other causes include electric shocks, excavation cave-ins, wall collapses, and scaffold failures. A significant 88% of accidents occurred at private construction sites, compared to 12% in public projects.

A month-wise breakdown for 2025 reveals a spike in accidents during April (24 cases), May (15), June (15), and September (17). Notably, most incidents in April and May took place between 12 PM and 3 PM, pointing to the growing impact of extreme heat conditions on worker safety.

“These statistics clearly reflect serious gaps in the enforcement of safety laws and systemic failures. Most of these accidents are preventable, yet they continue due to lack of safety measures, work pressure, weak enforcement, low awareness among workers, and a general neglect of workplace risks,” Pandya said.

Global Context and Wider Concerns

Internationally, April 28 is observed by trade unions as International Workers’ Memorial Day and by the International Labour Organization as the World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The day commemorates workers who have lost their lives on the job and calls for stronger safeguards.

According to International Labour Organization estimates, nearly 3 million workers die each year worldwide due to work-related accidents and diseases. Of these, around 330,000 deaths occur due to workplace accidents alone.

The construction industry remains one of the most hazardous sectors globally, accounting for approximately 108,000 deaths annually. Workers in construction face three to four times higher risk compared to other industries, and on average, one construction worker dies every five minutes worldwide.

Labour groups say the Gujarat data mirrors global trends but also exposes local enforcement failures. They stress the need for stricter implementation of safety regulations, better monitoring of private construction sites, and targeted measures to address heat stress and climate-linked risks.

As the world observes the day in memory of fallen workers, the figures from Gujarat serve as a stark reminder that workplace safety remains an urgent and unresolved challenge.