CHENNAI/ ASSAM: A tragic accident at a construction site in north Chennai on Tuesday night claimed the lives of nine young men from the Dimasa tribe, all hailing from villages in Assam.
These men had migrated to Tamil Nadu in search of work, unaware that their routine shift would become their final journey to earn a living for themselves and their families.
The accident occurred at the site of the 1,320-megawatt Ennore Special Economic Zone thermal power project near Ponneri, where the workers were constructing a concrete arch over 20 feet above the ground. Suddenly, the metal scaffolding gave way, sending the men plummeting nearly 30 feet.
Among the victims were Povit Thaosen (20) and his elder brother Sorbojit Thaosen (27). Povit had finished his shift and was waiting for his brother to be lowered via a crane bucket when the structure collapsed. “We all were waiting for our turn to descend.
Suddenly, there was a loud sound, like a pipe bursting. Everyone looked around, and then the whole arch just came down,” he recalled.
The two brothers, along with four other young men from Misibailam village in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, shared a rented room near the site.
Less experienced workers like Povit earned around Rs 19,000 per month, while experienced workers like Sorbojit earned Rs 24,000-25,000. Many of the men who died had brothers and cousins working at the same site, highlighting how entire families migrate together for employment.
Among the other victims were Joybiddya Sorong (45), whose brother Prayanto Sorong (28) also died, and four men from Nabhanga village in Assam’s Hojai district, including Paban Sarang (40), leaving behind families in Assam. The bodies are expected to be repatriated on Thursday, adding to the grief in their home communities.
Lives in Transit: The Human Side of the Tragedy
These nine men were more than workers—they were sons, brothers, and providers. Their lives were defined by daily struggles to earn a living, and their journey to Chennai reflects the larger plight of migrant workers across India.
In Misibailam village, Provit and Sorbojit Thaosen are remembered as responsible, hardworking brothers. They had moved to Chennai to support their families, sharing a small rented room with four other young men from the same village.
Sorbojit, the elder, was a skilled and experienced worker, known for his dedication and reliability. “He wanted to make a better life for his family. He had never complained about the long hours or hard work,” said a neighbor.
From Nabhanga village in Hojai, Paban Sarang, 40, left behind a wife and daughter in Assam. “We always thought he was strong and careful. We never imagined he wouldn’t come back,” said his cousin. For these men, migrating to cities like Chennai was not a choice but a necessity driven by unemployment and low wages at home.
Provit Thaosen recalled, “My brother Sorbojit had worked at similar sites across India. Everything seemed normal yesterday. No one imagined such a tragedy would occur. We still don’t understand what went wrong.”
The Broader Issue: Migration Driven by Job Scarcity
This accident highlights the grim reality of economic migration. With limited employment opportunities in Assam, young men are compelled to work far from home, often in dangerous conditions. Migrant workers take on physically demanding, high-risk jobs just to secure two square meals for themselves and their families.
Safety lapses at construction sites exacerbate the risks. The collapse in Chennai raises urgent questions about the enforcement of workplace safety standards, as well as social security and emergency preparedness for migrant laborers.
The human cost of these economic pressures is immense: families are left grieving and financially vulnerable, while the men’s labor fuels urban infrastructure and industrial development.
The Call for Action
Experts and community leaders stress that tragedies like this underline the need for:
- Strict enforcement of safety standards at construction sites.
- Comprehensive social security and insurance for migrant workers.
- Economic development in rural and remote regions aims to reduce forced migration and unsafe employment.
As the bodies of the nine men are repatriated to Assam, their story stands as a somber reminder of the human cost behind India’s urban and industrial growth, and the sacrifices made by migrant workers to support their families.
The Victims
- Provit Thaosen (20) – Misibailam, Karbi Anglong
- Sorbojit Thaosen (27) – Misibailam, Karbi Anglong
- Joybiddya Sorong (45) – Nabhanga, Hojai
- Prayanto Sorong (28) – Nabhanga, Hojai
- Paban Sarang (40) – Nabhanga, Hojai
- Muktidhar Phanglaw – Misibailam, Karbi Anglong
- Munna Kemprai – Assam
- Phaibit Fanglu – Assam
- Bidayum Porbosa – Assam
- Suman Kharikap – Assam
- Dimaraj Thousen – Assam
- Dipak Raijung – Assam
(Some of the remaining six were also from Karbi Anglong and Hojai, Assam.)
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