Moshi building collapse: Eight feared trapped as Maharashtra NDRF, Army intensify operation

Rescue agencies continued intensive operations late into Thursday night at the Moshi garbage dump collapse site where an estimated eight people are believed to be trapped inside the damaged WastetoEnergy project buildingTeams are removing debris surrounding the structure and stabilising its dangerously tilted sections before making a safe entry into the buildingThe operation is focused on creating a secure access corridor for rescue personnel to enter the partially collapsed structure without triggering further structural failure Officials said the buildings unstable condition has made direct entry extremely risky necessitating a carefully planned debris removal and stabilisation exercise before search teams can move insideCommissioner reviews rescue effortsPimpriChinchwad Municipal Commissioner Dr Vijay Suryawanshi visited the disaster site on Thursday evening and reviewed the ongoing rescue operation He held detailed discussions with senior officers of the National Disaster Response Force NDRF the Indian Army the PCMC Fire Department PMRDA Fire Brigade police and other emergency response agencies regarding the progress of the operation available manpower heavy machinery technical equipment and the next phase of the rescue missionThe Commissioner directed all agencies to maintain close coordination and ensure that every possible measure is taken to carry out the rescue operation swiftly while prioritising the safety of both trapped individuals and rescue personnel He instructed officials to leave no stone unturned in locating and rescuing those still feared trapped beneath the debrisAmong those present during the review were Indian Army Colonel RK Tiwari NDRF SecondinCommand Deepak Tiwari Additional Municipal Commissioner Vikrant Bagade Deputy Commissioner of Police Shweta Khedkar along with senior civic and emergency officialsNDRF outlines challenges on the groundExplaining the challenges facing rescue teams NDRF SecondinCommand Deepak Tiwari said entering the damaged building remains extremely difficult due to its unstable condition To address this rescue personnel are first removing debris piled around the structure while simultaneously working to secure and stabilise its dangerously weakened sectionsHe said the operation has been planned in a coordinated manner to enable rescuers to safely enter the building reach those trapped inside and evacuate them without exposing either the victims or rescue teams to additional dangerOur objective is to establish safe access to the trapped persons and bring them out safely he saidLate on Thursday night three JCB excavators a Poclain machine and several dumpers continued clearing massive quantities of debris from around the collapsed structure to facilitate the next phase of the rescue operationAll resources deployed says CommissionerCommissioner Dr Vijay Suryawanshi said the administration is closely monitoring every development at the disaster site and has made all necessary equipment and resources available for the rescue missionHe said the operation remains challenging because the building has tilted to one side and a portion of its structure has already collapsedOnce the debris is cleared and the unstable sections are secured a safe route will be created for rescue personnel to enter the building and evacuate the trapped individualsMultiagency rescue strategy in placeExpressing confidence in the ongoing efforts the Commissioner said the NDRF Indian Army PCMC and PMRDA fire services police and the Disaster Management Department have jointly prepared a rescue strategy after assessing the sites structural condition geographical constraints and technical challengesHe added that all agencies remain hopeful that those trapped beneath the debris will be rescued safely