Nine workers were killed at a waste-to-energy plant after a garbage heap collapsed onto an administrative building following heavy rains, the facility’s operator said.
Building and construction accidents are common during India’s June-to-September monsoon season, with old and rickety structures buckling after prolonged downpours.
The accident occurred last Wednesday at the Antony Waste plant on the outskirts of Pune, when thousands of tonnes of waste from a nearby landfill gave way, trapping 23 people.
“The incident, triggered by incessant rains causing thousands of tonnes of waste from an adjacent landfill to destabilise, severely damaged the structure where 23 personnel were present,” the company said in a statement.
Nine were killed and the other 14 were rescued alive.
Rescue efforts were hampered by the rain as workers struggled to reach those buried under debris, according to officials.
Operations at the plant have been temporarily suspended pending structural and safety assessments. — AFP
