Scorching Heat Puts Singareni Contract Workers at Risk; Union Seeks Shift Rescheduling

April 16, 2026

Bhadradri Kothagudem (Same Day): With temperatures soaring beyond 42°C across coal mining regions, contract workers in the Singareni Collieries Company Limited are facing severe hardship, particularly in open-cast mines and other surface operations.

Thousands of workers are reportedly struggling to cope with the extreme heat, describing conditions akin to working in a furnace. The situation has prompted the Progressive Singareni Contract Workers’ Union (TUCI) to demand immediate intervention from the management.

R. Madhusudan Reddy, State Vice-President of the union, urged authorities to revise working hours in view of the rising temperatures. He cautioned that exposure to intense heat, especially during peak afternoon hours, could lead to heatstroke and other health complications.

“Coal mine environments are significantly hotter than normal conditions. Requiring workers to continue operations under such extreme heat is unsafe,” he said, alleging that the management’s response to workers’ welfare has been inadequate.

The union has called for suspension of outdoor work between 12 noon and 4 p.m., when heat intensity is at its peak, and suggested increasing early morning and night shifts instead. It also demanded provision of essential facilities such as drinking water, ORS packets, shaded rest areas, and the deployment of mobile medical teams to address emergencies.

Despite general advisories issued by authorities on coping with the ongoing heatwave, no specific measures have yet been implemented for contract workers in Singareni, leading to growing discontent among labour groups.

The union warned that failure to act promptly could result in intensified protests, as workers seek safeguards against the worsening summer conditions.

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