NEW DELHI: At least nine workers lost their lives after a massive heap of garbage collapsed onto an administrative building at a waste-to-energy plant near Pune in India’s western state of Maharashtra, following days of relentless monsoon rainfall, the facility’s operator said on Monday.
The fatal incident occurred on Wednesday at the Antony Waste plant, where thousands of tonnes of waste from an adjacent landfill suddenly gave way, burying part of the facility while 23 employees were inside the building.
According to the company operating the plant, the collapse was caused by continuous heavy rainfall, which destabilised the nearby landfill and sent a large volume of waste crashing onto the structure.
Emergency teams launched an immediate rescue operation under difficult weather conditions. Persistent rain and unstable debris slowed efforts to reach those trapped beneath the rubble.
A total of 14 workers were pulled from the wreckage alive, while nine others were confirmed dead.
The company has temporarily suspended operations at the facility while authorities carry out structural inspections and safety assessments to determine the cause of the collapse and prevent similar incidents.
Building failures and infrastructure-related accidents are not uncommon during India’s annual monsoon season, which typically lasts from June to September.
Intense and prolonged rainfall often weakens ageing structures and increases the risk of landslides and other disasters.
Scientists have repeatedly warned that climate change is contributing to more frequent and intense extreme weather events across India.
Weather experts have also cautioned that the development of a potentially strong El Niño this year could further disrupt normal rainfall patterns across the region.
