A three-storey building collapsed in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area of Pune on Wednesday amid heavy rainfall, leaving at least 15 people feared trapped under the debris, officials said.
Rescue Operations Underway
Rescue teams, including personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire brigade, and local police, have been deployed to the site. According to the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, the building was located in the Kasarwadi area. The collapse occurred around 3 pm, following incessant rains that have been lashing the region for the past two days.
Local residents reported hearing a loud noise before the structure gave way. "We saw the building sway and then it came down within seconds. Many people might be trapped inside," said a witness. The building, reportedly constructed around 15 years ago, housed several families and commercial establishments on the ground floor.
Casualties and Injuries
As of the latest reports, four people have been rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital with injuries. The condition of one of the injured is stated to be critical. The exact number of people trapped remains uncertain, but officials fear at least 15 individuals are still under the rubble.
Pune District Collector Rajesh Deshmukh said, "We are coordinating with all agencies to ensure a swift rescue. The priority is to save lives. Heavy machinery has been called in to clear the debris."
Weather Conditions Hamper Rescue Efforts
The rescue operation is being hampered by continuous heavy rain, which has led to waterlogging in the area. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Pune district, predicting extremely heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours. The rain has also caused traffic snarls and disruptions in power supply in several parts of the city.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has taken note of the incident and directed officials to expedite rescue efforts. He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
Investigation Ordered
The municipal corporation has ordered a structural audit of the building to determine the cause of the collapse. Preliminary reports suggest that the building may have been weakened by water seepage due to the heavy rain. Authorities are also probing whether the building had any prior violations or was constructed without proper approvals.
This is the second such incident in the region this week. On Monday, a portion of a wall collapsed in a nearby locality, killing one person. The recent spell of heavy rain has raised concerns about the safety of old and dilapidated structures in Pune and its suburbs.
Residents of the area have been advised to vacate vulnerable buildings and move to safer locations. The municipal corporation has set up relief camps for those displaced.
