Rescue efforts are ongoing in Pune, Maharashtra, where a three-storey building collapsed after a massive mound of garbage crashed onto it on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred at a waste-to-energy plant in Moshi, Pimpri-Chinchwad industrial township, trapping around 18 individuals under the rubble.
As of Saturday, nine people have been pulled out alive, while one body has been retrieved from the debris. However, eight persons are still believed to be trapped under the debris, and rescuers are racing against time to reach them. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other agencies are engaged in the complex operation, using around 15 excavators, including specialized demolition machines.
The rescue operation is in a critical stage, with officials pointing out complex structural and technical challenges. The building suffered a “cantilever fall”, causing two or three front slabs to collapse one on top of the other. The trapped persons are believed to be in the front portion where these slabs have come together, and the slabs have to be removed very carefully to ensure the victims can be rescued safely.
Relatives of the trapped persons are losing patience, questioning the pace of the rescue operation. However, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation Commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi said there was “absolutely no delay” in the rescue effort. The NDRF is conducting the operation very systematically, as per its experience and established protocols, while working with utmost speed.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reviewed the rescue operation on Friday and directed officials to expedite the effort while ensuring that the trapped persons are rescued safely and their families are provided reassurance and support. The civic body has also deployed additional heavy machinery to expedite the rescue mission.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of the building, with reports suggesting that the first and second floors were unauthorized. The PCMC Commissioner said a probe would be conducted into the matter. The anguished relatives of the trapped persons have started questioning the PCMC, demanding that the rescue operation be expedited.
