Daijiworld Media Network - Pune
Pune, Jul 12: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) MP Supriya Sule has described the Moshi garbage dump collapse in Pune as a tragic consequence of administrative failure, demanding a comprehensive investigation and strict action against those responsible.
The accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon when a massive heap of garbage collapsed onto the administrative building of the Waste-to-Energy project inside the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation's Moshi garbage depot. Twenty-three people were trapped when the structure was buried under the debris.
The death toll has now risen to eight after rescue teams recovered seven more bodies from the collapsed building on Saturday. One person is still missing, and search operations are continuing.
In a post on X, Sule said the loss of lives was deeply painful and reflected serious lapses in governance and administration.
She termed the incident a glaring example of negligence and called for those responsible to be identified and held accountable without delay.
The MP also said the tragedy had highlighted long-standing shortcomings in urban solid waste management and stressed the need for a detailed review of existing systems to prevent similar disasters.
On Saturday night, Sule visited Sainath Hospital to meet workers injured in the collapse. She interacted with the victims to understand the circumstances of the incident and also spoke with doctors and hospital officials, urging them to ensure the injured received timely and quality medical care.
She demanded a fair and impartial probe into the accident, appropriate compensation for the families of those who lost their lives, and financial assistance for the injured workers.
Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, Sule said the government must ensure that all those found responsible are brought to justice at the earliest.
She further emphasised the need for robust policies on solid waste management and recycling in urban areas, calling for scientific waste disposal systems backed by strict timelines to minimise the risk of such incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, rescue teams continue efforts to locate one person who is believed to remain trapped beneath the garbage mound adjoining the collapsed building. Officials said personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), assisted by sniffer dogs and specialised search equipment, are continuing the operation.