New Delhi: A major rescue operation is underway in Pune at Pimpri-Chinchwad after a building at the city’s garbage depot collapsed on Wednesday afternoon (July 8). According to the latest reports, the disaster occurred at the Waste-to-Energy project site in Moshi, where a massive, unstable mound of garbage came crashing down, destabilising and destroying the structure. The incident has created panic among the people, with conflicting initial reports regarding the number of residents caught in the debris. Meanwhile, assessments feared that approximately 10 to 16 workers are currently trapped, with rescue teams expressing grave concern that five may have already lost their lives, as per the officials.
Pune Building Collapse: What Led to the Building Collapse?
The building that collapsed was being used as the administrative office of a private company handling waste processing on behalf of the civic body, according to official media reports.
Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) Commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi said the office was located next to a mountain-like pile of legacy waste.
“The administrative building was situated next to a mountain-like pile of legacy waste. Prima facie, it appears that due to heavy rains, the waste mound became loose and collapsed on top of the building,” he said.
According to officials, around 20 people were inside the building when it collapsed. Four employees managed to escape, while 16 are believed to be trapped inside. Rescue teams have established contact with those trapped as personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the fire brigade continue rescue operations.
Suryawanshi added that the administrative building is located adjacent to the sanitary landfill (SLF) containing legacy waste near the waste-to-energy plant at Moshi in Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Pune Building Collapse: Heavy Rains Trigger Fresh Tragedy in Pune
Officials said heavy rainfall over the past two days caused the legacy waste to become unstable, leading it to slide onto the administrative building. The incident comes as relentless monsoon rains continue to batter Pune and Mumbai, causing widespread disruption across the region. On July 6, four people, including three members of a family, were killed in separate rain-related incidents in Pune district. The deaths were reported after a landslide and a wall collapse, while two others were swept away in floodwaters. Authorities have also rescued or shifted more than 500 people to safer locations amid the heavy rainfall.
(This is a developing story; follow for more updates)
