Pune building collapse: Trapped worker sent selfie to wife, rescued after 9 hours

A worker trapped in the Pune Moshi plant collapse sent his wife a final message and selfie from under the rubble. His rescue after nine hours has lifted hopes as teams continue searching for others still feared trapped.

In Short

• A garbage heap slammed into the Moshi plant building on Wednesday
• Twenty-three employees were inside, with several eating lunch in the canteen
• Methane from the waste made breathing difficult for workers under rubble

When a mountain of garbage came crashing down on a waste-to-energy plant building in Pune's Moshi area, Vijay Sapkal thought he was living his final moments.

Trapped beneath twisted concrete, shattered glass and tonnes of debris, the worker pulled out his phone and sent what he believed would be his last message to his wife.

"I am trapped under the building... come quickly," he wrote, along with a selfie from beneath the rubble.

Nine hours later, against all odds, Vijay emerged alive.

His dramatic rescue has become a symbol of hope amid the ongoing search operation at the disaster site, where rescuers continue to look for workers feared trapped under the debris more than 72 hours after the collapse.

The accident occurred around 1:30 pm on Wednesday when a massive heap of garbage collapsed onto a building at a waste-to-energy plant in Moshi, on the outskirts of Pune. The impact reduced parts of the structure to rubble and trapped 23 employees working inside.

According to officials, 14 workers have been rescued alive so far, while one employee has died. Eight others are still feared trapped beneath the debris, and rescue teams remain engaged in a round-the-clock operation to locate them.

Vijay was among 15 to 16 employees having lunch in the first-floor canteen when disaster struck.

Without warning, a huge pile of waste crashed onto the building, burying the structure and those inside within seconds.

NINE HOURS UNDER DEBRIS

Recalling the terrifying ordeal, Vijay said he was pinned beneath the rubble with a heavy pillar crushing his leg. Broken glass and debris surrounded him, while methane gas emanating from the garbage made breathing increasingly difficult.

Convinced that he might not survive, he thought of his wife, son and other family members.

As darkness and uncertainty grew around him, Vijay kept chanting God's name and tried to stay conscious. He also called out to other trapped workers, checking on their condition and encouraging them not to lose hope.

Despite the pain and fear, the workers continued motivating one another while waiting for help to arrive.

Hours later, rescue personnel finally reached Vijay and pulled him out alive. He is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

Vijay describes his survival as nothing short of a miracle.

A female employee trapped in the collapse was also rescued alive.

SEARCH CONTINUES FOR MISSING WORKERS

Even as Vijay's rescue offers a rare moment of relief, the broader tragedy continues to unfold.

Rescue teams have been working continuously at the site for more than three days, using heavy machinery and specialised equipment to clear the debris and search for those still missing.

Families of trapped workers have remained at the scene, anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones.

Authorities have announced financial assistance for the victims' families. The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has declared compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the kin of those who lost their lives, while the Maharashtra government has announced an additional Rs 5 lakh. The contractor associated with the project has also promised Rs 25 lakh in assistance.

Officials have assured that accountability will be fixed and strict action taken against those found responsible for the disaster.

For now, however, the focus remains on the rescue operation.

As excavators continue to move through the towering debris and rescue workers search for signs of life, families gathered at the site cling to a single hope—that their loved ones, like Vijay, will emerge alive from beneath the rubble.

- Ends
With inputs from Shrikrushna Panchal