NEW DELHI: Tragedy struck at a waste-to-energy plant in western India last week when a pile of garbage collapsed onto an administrative building, resulting in the deaths of nine workers. The operator of the facility reported the incident on Monday.
This accident occurred on the outskirts of Pune at the Antony Waste plant, where heavy rains had caused thousands of tonnes of waste from a nearby landfill to become unstable. The collapse happened when 23 people were inside the building, leading to a rescue operation amid challenging conditions.
“Constant rain triggered the collapse of waste from an adjacent landfill, severely affecting the structure where the workers were present,” the company stated. While nine workers lost their lives, 14 others were rescued.
Rescue teams faced difficulties due to ongoing rain, making it hard to reach those trapped beneath the debris, according to plant officials. As a precaution, operations at the facility have been temporarily halted while safety assessments are conducted.
Experts have pointed out that climate change is leading to more frequent and intense weather events in India. Additionally, the potential arrival of a strong El NiƱo might alter typical weather patterns in the region, raising concerns among weather forecasters.
