- The incident occurred after heavy rains, said the manager of the establishment.
- Operations temporarily suspended at the factory.
- Climate change increases extreme weather events in India, scientists say
Nine workers were killed at a waste-to-energy plant in western India after a pile of garbage collapsed on an administrative building following heavy rain, the facility’s operator said Monday.
Building and construction accidents are common during India’s monsoon season, from June to September, with old, 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 burst, trapping 23 people inside the building.
“The incident, triggered by incessant rains causing the destabilization of thousands of tonnes of waste from an adjacent landfill, seriously damaged the structure where 23 employees were present,” the company said in a statement.
Nine were killed and the other 14 were rescued alive.
Rescue efforts were hampered by rain as workers struggled to reach people buried under debris, according to plant officials.
Plant operations have been temporarily suspended pending structural and safety assessments.
Scientists say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in India, the world’s most populous country.
The arrival of a potentially strong El Nino weather system this year could also change normal weather patterns in the country, forecasters say.
