At least 16 people are feared trapped after an administrative building collapsed in Pimpri Chinchwad on Wednesday when a massive mound of legacy waste gave way following heavy rainfall, officials said.
The incident occurred inside the premises of a legacy waste dumping yard near the waste-to-energy plant at Moshi, where the building served as the administrative office of a private company engaged by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) for waste processing.
According to Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi, around 20 employees were inside the building when the incident occurred. Four managed to escape, while 16 others are believed to be trapped under the debris.
Preliminary findings suggest that continuous rainfall over the past two days weakened the towering mound of accumulated legacy waste, causing it to slide onto the building and trigger the collapse.
"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," the municipal commissioner said.
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Rescue operations are underway with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the fire brigade and other emergency agencies deployed at the site. Officials said rescuers have established contact with some of those trapped inside, raising hopes of a successful rescue.
Heavy earthmoving equipment has also been pressed into service to remove debris while ensuring the safety of those believed to be trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
The building is located adjacent to the sanitary landfill containing legacy waste, an area that has been undergoing waste processing and remediation.
The incident comes as Maharashtra continues to witness intense monsoon activity. Heavy rainfall has battered Pune, Mumbai and several adjoining districts over the past few days, leading to waterlogging, landslides and infrastructure damage.
On July 6, four people, including three members of a family, were killed in separate rain-related incidents in Pune district, while two others were swept away in floodwaters. More than 500 people were shifted to safer locations as authorities responded to flooding and landslides triggered by the heavy rain.
Rescue operations at the collapse site are continuing, and officials are yet to confirm the number of casualties or whether all those feared trapped have been located.
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