The death toll in the Maharashtra waste-to-energy plant collapse has reached nine after rescue teams recovered the final missing worker, Vaman Kasbe, at 1 am on Sunday, concluding an 83-hour operation.
The accident occurred on July 8 in Moshi, where a mound of waste collapsed onto the project’s administrative building, trapping 23 employees. Five escaped unaided, nine were rescued alive, and nine died.
Rescue challenges and recovery efforts
Teams from the Army, NDRF, fire brigade, police, and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation worked continuously amid toxic gases, unstable debris, and collapsed structures. On Saturday, rescuers demolished part of the building to retrieve seven bodies. Kasbe’s recovery on Sunday marked the operation’s end.
The deceased have been identified as Bhavesh Vani, Akshay Sawant, Sunil Korke, Sunny Mane, Mahesh Kumbhar, Nagesh Gaikwad, Ranjeet Patil, Rahul Gaikwad, and Vaman Kasbe.
Compensation and accountability questions
The project’s company pledged Rs 25 lakh per deceased worker’s family, a job for one family member, and educational support for victims’ children. However, it clarified the Rs 25 lakh would come from an employees’ group insurance policy, not directly from the company.
Attention now shifts to potential legal action against the contractor, Antony, and investigations into possible negligence. Authorities face calls to fix responsibility for the collapse, which claimed nine lives.
