At least 16 people are feared trapped after an administrative building collapsed in Pune’s Pimpri Chinchwad on Wednesday, following the collapse of a massive legacy waste mound triggered by heavy rainfall, officials said.
Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the fire brigade have launched an intensive operation to rescue those trapped beneath the debris.
Building Buried Under Legacy Waste
According to Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) Commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi, the building was located within the premises of a legacy waste dumping yard near the waste-to-energy plant at Moshi.
The structure served as the administrative office of a private company engaged by the civic body to process waste at the site.
“Prima facie, it appears that continuous heavy rainfall loosened the mountain-like pile of legacy waste, which then slid onto the building,” Suryawanshi said.
Rescue Operation Underway
Officials said around 20 people were inside the building when the incident occurred.
- Four people managed to escape safely.
- Sixteen employees are believed to remain trapped.
- Rescue teams have established communication with some of those trapped inside.
Emergency personnel are using specialised equipment to remove debris while ensuring the safety of those inside.
Heavy Rain Triggered the Collapse
Authorities said persistent rainfall over the past two days destabilised the large mound of accumulated waste, causing it to collapse onto the adjacent office building.
The incident occurred near the sanitary landfill containing legacy waste in the Moshi area of Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Maharashtra Rains Continue to Disrupt Normal Life
Heavy monsoon rains have affected several parts of Maharashtra, including Pune and Mumbai.
Earlier this week, rain-related incidents in Pune district claimed four lives, including three members of a family, in separate landslides and wall collapse incidents. Two others were swept away by floodwaters, while more than 500 residents were shifted to safer locations as a precaution.
Rescue operations at the Pimpri-Chinchwad site are ongoing, and officials are expected to provide further updates on the condition of those trapped.
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