Pune: One Dead, 14 Rescued, Search On for Eight More At PCMC’s Moshi Garbage Depot
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Moshi, 9th July 2026: Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) Commissioner Dr. Vijay Suryawanshi on Thursday met the families of people trapped in the building collapse at the Moshi garbage depot and assured them that the administration is making every possible effort to rescue those still buried under the debris.
Speaking to anxious relatives at the site, Dr. Suryawanshi said all rescue agencies are working round the clock and urged families to remain patient as the operation continues.
“The entire administration stands firmly with you. Every effort is being made to safely rescue those trapped inside the building. Rescue operations will continue without interruption until everyone is brought out,” he told the families.
Multi-Agency Rescue Operation Underway
The Commissioner said teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Indian Army, the PCMC Fire Department, PMRDA Fire Department, the Police, and other agencies are working in close coordination at the site.
He said all available manpower, heavy machinery, and technical equipment have been deployed to carry out the search and rescue mission on a war footing.
Dr. Suryawanshi also assured the families that the administration would continue to provide them with regular updates on the progress of the operation.
Instructions to Provide Facilities for Families
Several relatives of the trapped workers have been waiting at the accident site since Wednesday. The Commissioner directed the management of Antony and Lara Company, which operates the waste processing facility, to ensure proper food, accommodation, and other essential amenities for the affected families during the rescue operation.
NDRF Second-in-Command Deepak Tiwari also briefed the families on the technical aspects of the rescue efforts. Additional Commissioner Vikrant Bagade and other senior civic officials were present.
One Worker Dies, Nine Rescued
The incident occurred at around 1.30 pm on July 8, when a massive heap of garbage collapsed onto an administrative building at the Moshi garbage depot, trapping an estimated 23 people inside.
Five people—Ashok Gupta, Munendra Kumar, Chandrashekhar Singh, Dinesh Sutar, and Shri Bala—managed to escape immediately after the collapse.
The remaining 18 people were trapped under the debris, prompting a joint rescue operation by the NDRF, Indian Army, PCMC Fire Department, PMRDA Fire Department, and the police.
By 8 pm on Wednesday, rescue teams had safely pulled out Somnath Shelke, Sachin Davadgaon, Dadasaheb Arade, Sujata Shinde, Rampratap Chavan, and Ranveer Singh, all of whom were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The rescue operation continued through the night, and by 1.30 am, three more people—Vijay Sapkal, Bhushan Patil, and Mahesh Raut—were rescued alive and admitted to hospital.
On Thursday morning at around 9 am, rescue teams recovered Bhavesh Wani from the collapsed structure and rushed him to Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) Hospital in Pimpri.
However, Dr. Rajendra Wable, Dean of YCM Hospital, confirmed that Wani was declared dead upon arrival.
Search Continues for Eight Missing Persons
With one fatality confirmed and 14 people rescued so far, officials said approximately eight people are still believed to be trapped beneath the debris.
Search operations are continuing on a war footing, with the NDRF also deploying a sniffer dog squad to assist in locating survivors.
Senior civic officials, including Commissioner Dr. Vijay Suryawanshi, Additional Commissioners Kuldeep Jangam and Vikrant Bagade, have remained at the site to supervise the rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, Shirur MP Shrirang Barne visited the accident site on Thursday to review the ongoing rescue operation and interact with officials overseeing the mission.
