TL;DR India recorded 742 factory and machine accidents in 2024, resulting in 660 deaths. While the number of accidents has fallen by more than half since 2010, deaths have declined at a much slower pace. As a result, factory accidents have become increasingly deadly, with nearly 89 deaths occurring for every 100 accidents in 2024. Fatality rates have remained consistently high since 2018, suggesting that although fewer accidents are being reported, severe incidents continue to claim hundreds of workers’ lives every year. Gujarat recorded the highest number of factory accident deaths in 2024, while men accounted for nearly 9 in 10 victims.

Context

On 8 June 2026, an explosion at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant claimed multiple lives and left several workers injured, once again drawing attention to industrial safety in India.

In our previous analysis, we examined data from DGFASLI and found that hazardous industries have expanded rapidly while inspection coverage has declined. But what do accident data from the NCRB reveal?

This article turns to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), which tracks factory and machine accidents across the country. The data shows that while reported factory accidents have fallen significantly over the past 15 years, hundreds of workers continue to lose their lives every year.

In 2024 alone, factory and machine accidents claimed 660 lives, equivalent to nearly two worker deaths every day. As India continues to expand its manufacturing sector, these numbers offer an important window into the human cost of industrial growth.

Who Compiles This Data?
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, publishes annual statistics on factory and machine accidents through its Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) reports.

Where can I download Clean & Structured Data on Factory Accidents in India?

Clean, standardised, structured, and ready-to-use datasets related to state and gender wise factory accidents can be downloaded from Dataful.

Key Insights

Factory Accidents Have Fallen Sharply Since 2010

India recorded 1,586 factory and machine accidents in 2010. By 2024, that number had fallen to 742, representing a decline of more than 53%. Deaths also declined during the same period, falling from 1,043 in 2010 to 660 in 2024. However, the reduction in fatalities was much smaller at around 37%.

In 2024 alone:

• 742 factory accidents were recorded

• 660 people died

• Nearly 2 workers died per day on average

The data suggests that while fewer factory accidents are being reported, fatal incidents continue to claim hundreds of lives every year. One notable anomaly was observed in 2019, when accidents jumped from 788 to 1,082, and deaths increased from 694 to 1,001. This represented a 37% rise in accidents and a 44% rise in deaths within a single year.

The spike may reflect increased industrial activity, better reporting, or the occurrence of multiple major accidents. Regardless of the reason, 2019 remains the deadliest year after 2016.

Factory Accidents Are Becoming More Deadly

While accidents have declined over time, fatality rates tell a different story. In 2010, India recorded about 66 deaths for every 100 factory accidents. By 2024, the figure had risen to nearly 89 deaths per 100 accidents.

The increase became especially visible after 2015:

• 2015: 55 deaths per 100 accidents

• 2018: 88 deaths per 100 accidents

• 2019: 93 deaths per 100 accidents

• 2020: 94 deaths per 100 accidents

• 2024: 89 deaths per 100 accidents

Since 2018, the fatality rate has remained above 88 deaths per 100 accidents every year. This suggests that the decline in accidents has not resulted in a similar decline in deaths. One possible explanation is that less severe incidents are less likely to be reported, while fatal accidents are almost always recorded. Another possibility is that although accidents are fewer, they are more severe. Either way, the NCRB data shows that factory accidents continue to be highly lethal.

Gujarat Records the Highest Number of Factory Accident Deaths

Factory accident deaths remain concentrated in a handful of industrial states. In 2024, Gujarat recorded the highest number of deaths at 121, followed by Rajasthan (95), Maharashtra (87), Madhya Pradesh (70), and Chhattisgarh (52). Together, these five states accounted for nearly two-thirds of all factory accident deaths recorded in India. The concentration is partly linked to the large manufacturing and industrial base in these states.

Nearly 9 in 10 Factory Accident Victims Were Men

Men accounted for 581 of the 660 factory accident deaths recorded in 2024, while women accounted for 79 deaths. In other words, nearly 88% of all victims were male. This reflects the composition of India’s industrial workforce, where men continue to dominate employment in heavy manufacturing, engineering, mining, and machinery-intensive industries.

However, the data also shows that factory accidents affect workers across genders, highlighting the importance of workplace safety measures for all employees.

Why Does It Matter? 

Factory accidents are one of the hidden human costs of industrial growth. Behind every statistic is a worker who left for work expecting to return home safely. As India continues to expand its manufacturing sector and position itself as a global industrial hub, reducing workplace fatalities will require stronger safety practices, better worker training, and stricter compliance with safety protocols. Sustainable industrial growth depends not only on creating jobs, but also on ensuring workers return home safely at the end of each day.

Key Numbers (2024)

• Total Factory & Machine Accidents: 742

• Total Deaths: 660

• Daily Average: 2 accidents and 2 deaths every day

• Fatality Rate: 88.9 deaths per 100 accidents

• Highest Number of Deaths: Gujarat (121)

• Second Highest Number of Deaths: Rajasthan (95)

• Top 5 States Combined: 425 deaths (64% of national total)