Maharashtra waste-to-energy plant collapse: Toll rises to 9 after 83-hour rescue
The death toll in the Maharashtra waste-to-energy plant collapse has risen to nine after rescue teams recovered the body of the last missing worker, bringing
The death toll in the Maharashtra waste-to-energy plant collapse has risen to nine after rescue teams recovered the body of the last missing worker, bringing an end to an exhausting 83-hour operation. While the search has concluded, the tragedy has left nine families grieving and intensified calls for accountability over one of the state's deadliest industrial accidents in recent months. The body of Vaman Kasbe, the final missing worker, was recovered at around 1 am on Sunday from beneath tonnes of debris and garbage, officially ending the four-day rescue effort. Read Full Story LAST MISSING WORKER FOUND The accident occurred on July 8 when a massive mound of waste suddenly collapsed onto the administrative building of the waste-to-energy project in Moshi, trapping workers inside.
A total of 23 employees were inside the building when the collapse took place. Five managed to escape on their own, while rescue teams pulled nine workers out alive. Nine others lost their lives. The deceased have been identified as Bhavesh Vani, Akshay Sawant, Sunil Korke, Sunny Mane, Mahesh Kumbhar, Nagesh Gaikwad, Ranjeet Patil, Rahul Gaikwad and Vaman Kasbe. RESCUE OPERATION FACED MAJOR CHALLENGES For four days, teams from the Army, Disaster Response Force, fire brigade, police and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation worked continuously to reach those trapped beneath the debris. The operation was hampered by toxic gases, unstable heaps of waste, collapsed beams and heavy concrete pillars, making every stage of the rescue dangerous.
On Saturday, rescuers demolished a section of the damaged building to create access inside, where seven bodies were recovered one after another. The search concluded early Sunday with the recovery of Vaman Kasbe's body. COMPANY ANNOUNCES COMPENSATION Following the tragedy, the company associated with the project announced financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh for the family of each deceased worker. It also promised a job to one family member and said it would bear the educational expenses of the victims' children. However, questions have emerged over the compensation package after the company clarified that the Rs 25 lakh payment would come through the employees' group insurance policy and not directly from the company. QUESTIONS OVER ACCOUNTABILITY With the rescue operation now over, attention has shifted to possible action against the contractor.
Questions are being raised over whether criminal proceedings will be initiated against the contractor, Antony, and whether authorities will investigate possible negligence behind the collapse. There are also demands for the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation to fix responsibility for the incident, with families and local residents seeking accountability for a tragedy that claimed nine lives. As the rescue teams leave the site, the focus is now expected to turn to the investigation into what caused the collapse and whether it could have been prevented. Ends With inputs from Shri Krushna Panchal
The BriefWire