Pimpri Chinchwad, 13th July 2026: Five days after the devastating landfill collapse at the Moshi garbage depot claimed the lives of nine contract workers, Antony Waste Handling Cell Pvt. Ltd. has announced a comprehensive compensation and rehabilitation package for the affected families, while the Maharashtra Government has constituted a high-level technical inquiry committee to investigate the disaster. Simultaneously, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has initiated stringent action against the project operator, accusing it of gross negligence and unauthorized construction.
The tragedy occurred on July 8 at around 1:30 pm, when a massive mound of legacy solid waste collapsed following days of incessant rainfall in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. The landslide-like movement of waste engulfed the adjacent three-storey administrative building of the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) project at the Moshi landfill, trapping 23 employees inside.
According to Antony Waste, five employees managed to escape immediately after the collapse, while rescue agencies later pulled out nine survivors alive during an intensive 83-hour search operation. Nine contract workers lost their lives after being trapped beneath tonnes of waste and collapsed concrete slabs.
The deceased have been identified as Bhavesh Vani (33), Akshay Sawant (35), Sunil Korke (40), Sunny Mane (39), Mahesh Kumbhar (33), Nagesh Gaikwad (26), Ranjeet Patil (22), Rahul Gaikwad (23), and Vaman Kasbe (50). KasbeтАЩs body was recovered early Sunday morning, marking the end of the prolonged rescue operation.
Preliminary post-mortem reports indicate that the victims died due to multiple fractures and severe internal bleeding caused by the impact of the collapsing structure rather than suffocation.
Company Announces Relief and Long-Term Support
In a statement, Antony Waste expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families and announced a series of immediate and long-term rehabilitation measures.
The company said each family of the deceased employees will receive тВ╣25 lakh in financial assistance, comprising ex gratia support along with statutory welfare benefits and payouts under the companyтАЩs Group Insurance Policy.
Besides financial compensation, the company has committed to offering employment to one eligible immediate family member of every deceased employee. It will also bear the educational expenses of the victimsтАЩ minor children.
For the injured employees, Antony Waste has undertaken to cover all hospital expenses, medical treatment and counselling costs. It also said it would bear funeral and last-rites expenses in accordance with the customs and wishes of each family.
The company has appointed a dedicated representative for every affected family to facilitate medical assistance, documentation, insurance claims, statutory benefits and other formalities under the supervision of senior management.
Senior company officials have already begun visiting hospitals and the residences of affected families to assess both immediate and long-term requirements.
In a joint statement, Managing Director Jose Jacob and Group President Mahendra Ananthula expressed profound grief over the tragedy and assured that the company would continue supporting the families through rehabilitation measures beyond immediate compensation.
The company also thanked the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Indian Army, the Fire Brigade, PCMC, district administration and volunteers for their prompt rescue efforts, stating that their coordinated response helped save 14 employees.
Meanwhile, Antony Waste said operations at its Waste-to-Energy plant have been temporarily suspended as a precaution until detailed structural and safety assessments are completed. However, municipal waste collection and transportation services across the city continue without disruption.
The company added that it is fully cooperating with the authorities during the ongoing investigation and appealed for privacy for the affected families.
Maharashtra Constitutes High-Level Technical Inquiry Committee
Amid growing concerns over safety standards at the landfill, the Maharashtra GovernmentтАЩs Urban Development Department (UDD) has constituted a six-member high-level technical inquiry committee through a Government Resolution issued on July 13.
The committee will be chaired by Sheetal Teli-Ugale (IAS), Divisional Commissioner of Pune Division.
Other members include Vikrant Bagade, Additional Commissioner-3 of PCMC, a Regional Officer nominated by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Prof. D. N. Singh from IIT BombayтАЩs Department of Geotechnical and Structural Engineering, Prof. Anilkumar Dixit, an expert in environmental engineering and solid waste management, and the Assistant Commissioner (Disaster Management), PCMC, who will serve as Member Secretary.
The committee has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive technical investigation into the incident.
Its mandate includes carrying out a root cause analysis of the landfill slide, assessing geotechnical and meteorological conditions, examining groundwater levels, drainage patterns and soil stability, and evaluating whether the landfill complied with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, CPHEEO guidelines and CPCB/MPCB norms.
The inquiry will also inspect the structural design and location of the collapsed administrative building and determine whether prior warning signsтАФincluding complaints, emails or WhatsApp messages regarding land subsidence, instability or gas accumulationтАФwere ignored.
The committee has further been directed to identify the responsibility of officials, contractors, consultants and project management agencies, besides recommending both immediate and long-term measures for landfill stability, stormwater management, slope protection and early warning systems.
A preliminary report has been sought within one month, while the final report is expected within two months.
PCMC Issues Stern Show-Cause Notice
Separately, PCMC Commissioner Dr. Vijay Suryawanshi has issued a strongly worded show-cause notice to project operator Antony Lara Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd., alleging gross negligence, serious safety violations and unauthorized construction.
According to the notice, municipal records indicate that the administrative building had received permission and a completion certificate only for its ground floor. However, the contractor allegedly constructed two additional floors without obtaining the mandatory approvals from the civic body.
The notice also states that the building was erected dangerously close to the unstable landfill slope despite the inherent geotechnical risks.
Further, the company has been accused of ignoring warning signs such as land subsidence, employee complaints and indications of gas accumulation before the collapse.
PCMC has directed the contractor to submit a detailed written explanation by 5 pm on July 15.
The civic body has warned that failure to provide a satisfactory explanation could result in termination of the Waste-to-Energy project contract, forfeiture of bank guarantees and registration of a criminal case under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Additional Civic Compensation
Apart from the companyтАЩs relief package, Commissioner Dr. Suryawanshi has directed PCMC to provide тВ╣10 lakh in financial assistance to the family of each deceased worker.
With investigations now underway at both the state and municipal levels, authorities aim to establish accountability for one of the deadliest industrial disasters witnessed in Pimpri Chinchwad in recent years, while ensuring long-term reforms in landfill safety, infrastructure planning and disaster preparedness.
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