Collapse of garbage mound in western India claims nine lives – 14 survivors rescued

Due to persistent rainfall, thousands of tons of waste had begun to slide and buried an administrative building beneath it, the statement said. The facility burns garbage to generate electricity. The extent of the damage the incineration plant itself sustained from the landslide initially remained unclear.

Monsoon season and landslide risk

According to the operator, the rescue work was hampered by the continuing rain. This also delayed the announcement of the final death toll until the following Monday. According to the operator, rescue teams had to work in several shifts under difficult weather conditions searching for survivors.

During the monsoon season between June and September, landslides and building collapses frequently occur in India when old and dilapidated structures give way under heavy rainfall. During this phase, the majority of the annual precipitation falls across large parts of the subcontinent, softening the soil and making slopes unstable.

Climate change and El Niño

According to scientists, extreme weather events are occurring more and more frequently in India, the world's most populous country, as a result of man-made climate change. Model calculations show that heavy rainfall, heatwaves and floods in South Asia have become more frequent and more intense in recent decades.

The particularly pronounced El Niño weather phenomenon this year could, in the view of meteorologists, further alter weather conditions. El Niño influences precipitation patterns in many regions of the world, including India, through changed sea surface temperatures in the Pacific, and can additionally intensify or weaken monsoon activity.

Background: Garbage mountains in India

Pimpri Chinchwad is located in the federal state of Maharashtra and borders directly on the metropolis of Pune. The region is an important industrial location with numerous manufacturing operations, logistics centers and waste processing plants. Authorities announced that they would review safety precautions at similar sites in the urban area.

The incident raises questions about the stability of large garbage dumps, which have grown over decades in many Indian cities without modern support structures. Critics have long pointed out that landfills pose an increased risk of landslides during the monsoon months, particularly when – as in the case of the facility in Pimpri Chinchwad – they are located directly next to administrative and operational buildings.

The responsible authorities in Maharashtra have announced an investigation into the accident. It is also to be examined whether the safety requirements for the incineration plant were being complied with at the time of the landslide. No results were initially named. (APA, 13.7.2026)