Pune, 13th July 2026: Nine workers who lost their lives in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation's (PCMC) Moshi garbage dump tragedy are believed to have died due to severe internal bleeding and multiple fractures rather than suffocation, according to preliminary post-mortem findings by doctors.
The post-mortem examinations were conducted at Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) Hospital in Pimpri. Medical experts said the victims suffered extensive injuries after being crushed by heavy concrete debris and garbage following the collapse of part of the Waste-to-Energy plant building.
Doctors observed multiple injuries across the victims' bodies, including fractures in the legs, arms, back and head. The pattern of injuries suggests that heavy objects, including concrete slabs, fell on them, causing severe blood loss that likely led to their deaths within a short time.
Medical experts said there was no preliminary evidence to indicate that the workers died due to suffocation or inhalation of toxic gases from the garbage. However, viscera samples have been preserved, and the final cause of death will be confirmed after detailed forensic analysis.
YCM Hospital Dean Dr. Rajendra Wable said the post-mortem reports are yet to be finalised. The preliminary findings point to internal bleeding and traumatic injuries, while no signs of death due to suffocation have been found so far. The preserved samples will help determine the exact cause once the forensic examination is complete.
PCMC Commissioner Dr. Vijay Suryawanshi has directed officials to immediately provide ₹10 lakh as ex gratia compensation to the family of each deceased worker.
The commissioner also instructed officials to register a criminal case in connection with the incident. However, despite five days having passed since the accident, no FIR had been registered until late Sunday night. Senior Inspector Ganesh Jamadar of MIDC Bhosari Police Station confirmed that no case had been filed by that time.
July 8, around 1:30 pm: A massive mound of garbage collapsed onto the Waste-to-Energy plant building at the Moshi garbage depot, causing the structure to tilt and partially collapse.
23 people trapped: A total of 23 workers were trapped inside and around the building. Five managed to escape on their own.
Rescue operation begins: Teams from the Army, NDRF, PCMC and PMRDA Fire Department launched a massive rescue operation. Nine workers were rescued alive on the first day.
July 9: Rescue teams continued round-the-clock search and debris removal operations using heavy machinery.
July 10: The first body, identified as Bhavesh Vani, was recovered from the collapsed structure.
July 11: Rescue personnel broke through the damaged concrete sections of the building and recovered seven more bodies during an intensive operation that continued until midnight.
July 12 (early hours): The ninth and final victim was found beneath a garbage heap outside the building at around 1 am. The search operation concluded at around 2 am after all victims were recovered.
Final toll: The tragedy claimed the lives of nine workers, while nine others were rescued alive.
