Pune: A massive rescue operation is underway in Pune‘s Moshi area after a three-storey building near a waste-to-energy project collapsed, leaving one worker dead and several others trapped beneath the debris.
Officials said nine workers have been rescued alive so far, while the body of one victim has been recovered and shifted to YCM Hospital for post-mortem and other legal formalities.
Rescue teams race against time
The rescue operation is being carried out jointly by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Indian Army, the Fire Department, PMRDA Fire Brigade and local police.
According to officials, around 23 workers were present at the site when the building collapsed. Five workers managed to escape immediately, while others were trapped under the rubble.
NDRF Commandant S B Singh said seven to eight people are still feared trapped. However, life detection equipment deployed at the site has so far not detected any signs of survivors beneath the debris.
Heavy rain triggered the collapse
Authorities said the building housed employees of Antony Lara Renewable Energy, which operates a 14 MW waste-to-energy plant in collaboration with the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
The collapse was triggered after a massive mound of legacy waste adjacent to the building became unstable following more than 600 mm of rainfall within 30 to 35 hours. The accumulated rainwater caused the waste mound to slide like a landslide, striking the three-storey structure and bringing it down at around 1.45 pm on Wednesday.
Investigation underway
Rescue teams continue to remove debris using heavy machinery and specialised equipment in the hope of locating those still missing.
Officials said the exact number of people trapped will be confirmed once the rescue operation is completed. An investigation has also been launched to determine the cause of the collapse and examine whether adequate safety measures were in place.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over the safety of infrastructure located near waste disposal sites, particularly during periods of intense monsoon rainfall.