Nagpur Labourer Succumbs to Suspected Heatstroke After Working in Scorching Sun
A tragic incident in Nagpur has highlighted the severe risks faced by outdoor workers during peak summer. A 34-year-old woman labourer died of suspected heatstroke earlier this week after working for extended hours under intense sunlight in Kamptee.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred on Sunday, when temperatures in Nagpur soared to around 40 degrees Celsius, as recorded at the surface observatory in Sonegaon. The deceased has been identified as Dulari Dilip Verma, a resident of Nagpur. She was engaged in brickwork at an under-construction site near Yashodhara Lawn on Ghorpad Road, within the limits of the New Kamptee police station.
According to reports, Dulari worked throughout the day under the harsh sun. In the evening, she began experiencing restlessness and discomfort. She was immediately rushed to the sub-district hospital in Kamptee, where she was pronounced dead around 8 PM on Sunday. Doctors on duty attributed her death primarily to heatstroke.
Rising Concerns Over Labour Safety
This incident has sparked renewed concerns about the safety and working conditions of labourers, particularly daily wage workers, during extreme summer months. The severe heat conditions currently gripping Nagpur and the broader region have exacerbated these risks.
Nafis Shaikh, the INTUC Nagpur district president, has voiced strong criticism, alleging widespread neglect of workers across various sectors. "Has the heatwave planning of the district administration and Nagpur Municipal Corporation failed?" he questioned. Shaikh further stated that industrial workers deployed by multiple agencies and agricultural labourers are often deprived of basic necessities like drinking water and shade, putting them at grave risk.
The death of Dulari Verma underscores the urgent need for improved protective measures and stricter enforcement of labour safety protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future.
