PM Modi announces ₹2 lakh ex-gratia for kin of 8 labourers killed in Rajasthan electrocution
Synopsis
Eight labourers died after a road-construction machine struck a high-tension power line in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district. PM Modi announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia from PMNRF for each victim's family — but with protests already at the site, the focus is shifting from relief to accountability for safety failures on a publicly funded project.
Key Takeaways
Eight labourers were killed and several others sustained burn injuries after being electrocuted at a road construction site in Chapoli village, Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan on 2 November 2026 .
The accident occurred when a gravel-mixing machine came into contact with an overhead high-tension electricity line .
PM Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia from the PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased, and ₹50,000 for each injured worker.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma ordered officials to ensure treatment, immediate assistance, and an investigation.
Former CM Ashok Gehlot demanded a thorough probe and adequate compensation for the victims' families.
Local residents staged a protest at the site, demanding accountability for the safety lapse.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, 2 November 2026, expressed grief over the deaths of eight labourers who were electrocuted while working on a road construction project in Chapoli village of Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district. He announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives, and ₹50,000 each for the injured.
How the Accident Occurred
According to police, the tragedy unfolded when a machine being used to mix gravel during road construction came into contact with an overhead high-tension electricity line at the site. The electric current spread through the machinery and struck the labourers working in the vicinity. Udaipurwati Station House Officer (SHO) Rampal confirmed the incident and said the injured were promptly taken for medical treatment. Further details regarding the identities of the deceased and the precise condition of all injured workers were still being ascertained, according to authorities.
PM Modi's Statement
The PMO India handle on social media platform X expressed condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. Modi said: 'Saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. My condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000.'
Local Anger and Demand for Accountability
The incident triggered immediate anger among local residents, who gathered at the site and staged a protest. Villagers demanded accountability from those responsible for ensuring worker safety at the construction site. Police and district authorities reached the spot shortly after the accident, though a formal inquiry is yet to be announced.
Political Response
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed condolences and said instructions had been issued to concerned officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured, provide immediate assistance to the affected families, and investigate the incident. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot called the deaths 'extremely sorrowful and poignant,' and urged the government to carry out a thorough investigation to determine how the accident occurred and who bears responsibility. Gehlot also demanded that appropriate compensation and every possible assistance be provided to the families of the deceased.
What Happens Next
With both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and the opposition pressing for accountability, a formal inquiry into the safety lapses at the Jhunjhunu construction site is expected. Notably, electrocution deaths at infrastructure worksites remain a recurring occupational hazard across India, raising broader questions about the enforcement of safety protocols on publicly funded road projects. The ex-gratia disbursement from PMNRF is expected to be processed for the families of all eight deceased labourers in the days ahead.
Point of View
At its core, a preventable workplace safety failure — a machine operating near an unguarded high-tension line on a road project that presumably had a safety clearance. The PMNRF ex-gratia is welcome relief but does not substitute for structural accountability: who authorised work so close to live overhead cables, and was the contractor compliant with the Central Motor Vehicles and Electricity Act safety norms? Electrocution deaths at infrastructure sites recur with grim regularity in India, and compensation without enforcement merely prices in the risk of death rather than eliminating it. The political opposition's demand for a probe is correct in intent, but the real test is whether the inquiry leads to contractor liability — or quietly closes after the grief cycle ends.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Jhunjhunu electrocution accident in Rajasthan?
Eight labourers were killed and several others were injured on 2 November 2026 when a gravel-mixing machine used in road construction at Chapoli village in Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, came into contact with an overhead high-tension electricity line. The current spread through the machinery and struck workers at the site.
What ex-gratia did PM Modi announce for the victims' families?
PM Modi announced ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each of the eight labourers who died, and ₹50,000 for each worker who was injured in the accident.
What action has the Rajasthan government taken after the accident?
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma issued instructions to concerned officials to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured, provide immediate assistance to affected families, and investigate the incident. Police and district authorities reached the site shortly after the accident occurred.
What did former CM Ashok Gehlot say about the Jhunjhunu accident?
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot called the deaths 'extremely sorrowful and poignant' and demanded a thorough investigation to determine how the accident occurred and who was responsible. He also urged the government to ensure appropriate compensation and all possible assistance for the families of the deceased.
Why are locals protesting after the Chapoli village electrocution?
Residents of Chapoli village gathered at the site and staged a protest, demanding accountability from those responsible for ensuring safety at the road construction project. The anger reflects wider concerns about inadequate worker safety measures at infrastructure worksites.
