Heavy rainfall reportedly destabilised a legacy waste mound near the Moshi landfill
July 8, 2026: A major rescue operation is underway in Maharashtra’s Pune district after an administrative building collapsed near the sanitary landfill (SLF) in Moshi, Pimpri-Chinchwad, on Wednesday. Officials said nearly 20 people were inside the building when the incident occurred. Four managed to escape safely, while at least 16 employees are feared trapped beneath the debris. Fire brigade personnel, disaster response teams and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) units have been deployed to the site as rescue efforts continue.
According to Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) Commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi, preliminary findings suggest that continuous heavy rainfall loosened a massive mound of accumulated legacy waste, which collapsed onto the building. The structure was located beside the sanitary landfill near a waste-to-energy plant, where relentless monsoon showers over the past two days reportedly weakened the waste pile. Officials said rescue teams are using heavy machinery to clear debris and have reportedly established contact with some of those trapped.
The incident comes as Pune and neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad continue to face severe monsoon conditions. Flooding, waterlogging and structural damage have affected several parts of the district, prompting the evacuation of over 6,000 residents. Schools and colleges in affected areas remain closed following an Orange Alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Authorities said rescue operations at the collapse site are ongoing, while the administration continues to monitor the evolving rain situation across the region.