Pune building collapse: At least 15 feared trapped in Pimpri Chinchwad, rescue underway

At least 15 people are feared trapped after a building collapsed in Maharashtra's Pimpri Chinchwad area of Pune district on Wednesday, prompting a large-scale rescue operation by emergency services.

The incident occurred amid relentless monsoon rains that have battered Pune and surrounding areas over the past several days.

According to an ANI report, teams from the fire brigade and disaster response agencies rushed to the site soon after the collapse and began searching for people believed to be trapped beneath the debris.

Authorities have not yet confirmed any casualties or injuries, while the exact cause of the collapse is still under investigation.

Rescue workers are using heavy machinery to remove the rubble even as personnel continue efforts to reach those trapped inside the collapsed structure. Officials said more details are expected as the rescue operation progresses.

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Rescue operation underway

Emergency responders have cordoned off the area and launched an intensive search operation.

Officials said the priority is to rescue those feared trapped under the collapsed building. Ambulances and medical teams have also been deployed at the site to provide immediate treatment to anyone pulled out of the rubble.

Heavy monsoon raises safety concerns

The building collapse comes as Maharashtra continues to witness intense monsoon rainfall, leading to flooding, waterlogging and structural damage in several districts.

Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad have experienced continuous rain over the past week, forcing the evacuation of more than 6,000 residents from flood-prone areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for parts of the district, warning of more heavy rainfall in the coming days.

Officials said Pune has already received more than its average monthly rainfall within the first week of July. The heavy rains have also triggered landslides, wall collapses and other rain-related incidents, resulting in multiple fatalities across the region.

The latest collapse comes only days after a three-storey residential building in Mumbai's Mankhurd area caved in during heavy rain, killing six people, including five children.

Mumbai has also been hit by one of its heaviest monsoon spells in recent years, causing severe waterlogging, disruption to road and rail traffic, and several rain-related accidents.