The death toll from the collapse of an administrative building at a waste-to-energy plant in Pune’s Moshi area has risen to nine. Rescue teams recovered the body of the final missing person, identified as Waman Kasbe, in the early hours of Sunday, bringing a nearly five-day search operation to a close. The incident, which occurred on July 8, saw a three-storey structure crushed when an adjacent, massive mound of garbage gave way following heavy rainfall, acting like a landslide.
At the time of the collapse, 23 employees of Antony Lara Renewable Energy Limited, a private firm contracted by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, were inside the building. While five individuals managed to escape immediately and nine others were rescued in the initial hours, the remaining workers were trapped beneath the debris. The recovery effort involved the National Disaster Response Force, the Indian Army, and local fire departments, who faced significant challenges due to the unstable nature of the site.
In the aftermath, the company has pledged to cover all medical expenses for the injured and announced a compensation package of Rs 25 lakh for the families of each deceased victim. The firm also committed to providing full-time employment to one family member of each victim and covering the education costs for their children. Authorities have confirmed that all bodies have been retrieved and handed over to their families for final rites, marking the end of the emergency response phase.