Moshi: Rescue Teams Begin Creating Safe Access Route to Reach Eight Trapped Workers
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pimpri Chinchwad, 10th July 2026: Rescue operations at the collapsed building inside the Moshi Waste-to-Energy Plant entered a critical phase on Friday, with teams beginning work to clear debris around the structure and create a safe access route to reach the eight people believed to be trapped inside.
The operation, now continuing for more than 45 hours since the incident, has been intensified with additional heavy machinery under the guidance of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Authorities said the primary objective is to rescue all those trapped as safely and quickly as possible.
Officials said efforts are currently focused on stabilising the damaged portion of the building before rescue teams enter the structure. JCB excavators, poclain machines and dumpers are being used to remove the large volume of debris surrounding the building. The operation is being carried out with extreme caution to avoid endangering those trapped inside.
Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) Commissioner Dr Vijay Suryawanshi, Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vijay Kumar Choubey and NDRF Commandant Praveen Dhatte reviewed the rescue operation at the site and held discussions on the next phase of the strategy. Officials assessed the structural condition of the building and the ground situation before finalising the safest approach to reach the trapped victims.
Dr Suryawanshi said all necessary machinery and rescue equipment have been deployed at the site and directed all agencies to expedite the operation. He noted that more than 45 hours had elapsed since the collapse, making it imperative to accelerate rescue efforts while ensuring the safety of both the trapped individuals and rescue personnel.
According to NDRF Commandant Praveen Dhatte, the front entrance of the building remains completely blocked due to the collapse. Rescue teams are therefore working to create a secure entry point from the rear of the structure by clearing the accumulated debris.
He added that information provided by survivors who were rescued earlier has helped officials identify the likely locations of those still trapped inside the building. Rescue teams are now concentrating their efforts on creating a safe passage to those specific areas.
Meanwhile, former Member of Parliament Prakash Ambedkar visited the accident site on Friday to review the ongoing rescue operation. He received a detailed briefing on the incident and the rescue efforts from PCMC Mayor Ravi Landge and Commissioner Dr Vijay Suryawanshi.
Ambedkar urged officials to undertake all necessary measures on a war footing to ensure the safe rescue of those trapped. He also met the families of the victims at the site and enquired about their well-being.
Mayor Ravi Landge also visited the site and interacted with the relatives of the trapped workers, assuring them that all agencies were working in coordination and with utmost caution to reach every person trapped inside the collapsed structure. He said every possible effort was being made to carry out the rescue operation safely and swiftly.
The rescue operation remains underway, with multiple agencies continuing round-the-clock efforts to reach the eight people still trapped inside the collapsed building.
