NHRC takes Suo Motu cognizance of hoarding collapse in Ahmedabad
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports regarding the death of two workers and critical injuries to another following the collapse of an advertising hoarding in Ahmedabad in September 2025.
According to the reports, the incident occurred when a large hoarding collapsed from the roof of a seven-storey residential building in the Bopal area. Approximately 15 labourers were installing the hoarding, about 80 feet above ground level, when the structure gave way. Ten workers fell during the collapse—two lost their lives, one was grievously injured, and seven others sustained minor injuries. The Commission observed that, if true, the media reports point to a serious violation of human rights. It has issued notices to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Gujarat and the Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad, requesting a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.
Initial reports suggest the labourers were working without proper safety harnesses or structural support. This raises significant concerns about the enforcement of safety protocols and regulatory oversight in outdoor advertising and construction activities in the city. The hoarding was installed atop a residential building, prompting questions about whether the necessary permissions had been obtained for its commercial use.
In response to public outcry and media scrutiny, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation reportedly launched a detailed investigation and directed officials to submit a comprehensive report within two weeks.
This is not the first time a hoarding-related accident has happened in India. Earlier, in May 2024, a major tragedy unfolded in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area, where a massive illegal billboard collapsed during a dust storm and rainfall. The structure—approximately 100 feet tall and 120×120 feet in size—fell on a petrol pump near the Eastern Express Highway.
The collapse resulted in at least 17 deaths and injuries to more than 70 individuals. The hoarding, later confirmed to be illegally installed without permissions from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), had grossly exceeded the permissible size and structural safety limits. Eyewitnesses described the collapse as sudden and deafening, leaving little time for anyone nearby to react. Several vehicles were crushed, and the petrol station roof was severely damaged.
Among the deceased were petrol pump employees and commuters caught in the devastation. In the aftermath, the BMC ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, while local residents and political leaders demanded accountability for the oversight and negligence that led to the disaster.
The incidents have reignited conversations on urban safety, illegal constructions, labour rights, and the unregulated commercialization of public spaces in India’s rapidly growing cities, underscoring the need for stricter enforcement of building codes, labour protection laws, and regulations to prevent further tragedies.
