Pune Landfill collapse claimed the lives of nine workers after a massive heap of garbage crashed onto an administrative building at a waste-to-energy plant on the outskirts of Pune following days of heavy monsoon rain.

The accident occurred last Wednesday at the Antony Waste plant when thousands of tonnes of waste from a nearby landfill became unstable and buried part of the facility.

The company said the collapsing waste heap severely damaged the building, where 23 employees were working at the time.

Emergency teams rescued 14 workers alive, while nine others lost their lives in the incident.

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Heavy rainfall slowed rescue operations as emergency workers struggled to remove debris and reach those trapped beneath the collapsed structure.

Antony Waste said it has temporarily suspended operations at the plant while engineers carry out structural inspections and comprehensive safety assessments.

Building failures and construction-related accidents frequently occur across India during the June-to-September monsoon season, when prolonged rainfall weakens ageing infrastructure and unstable structures.

Scientists say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events across India, raising the risk of disasters linked to heavy rainfall.

Weather forecasters have also warned that a potentially strong El Niño weather pattern could further disrupt normal rainfall across the country this year.