Operator trapped after soil collapse at water project site in Maharashtra's Palghar, rescue ops underway

Palghar (Maharashtra) [India], May 30 (ANI): An operator was trapped after soil piles fell on an excavator machine at a water supply project site in Maharashtra's Palghar district, officials said on Thursday.
According to officials, the incident took place on Wednesday night during excavation work for the Surya Water Supply Project in Sasunavghar village.
Officials said that the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has launched an operation following the soil collapse at a tunnel shaft in Maharashtra's Palghar to rescue the trapped excavator machine operator.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also arrived at the site to assist in the rescue operation.
This incident happened on Wednesday night when soil piles fell on an excavator machine during tunnel shaft excavation work for the Surya Water Supply Project at Sasun Navghar village in Vasai, Maharashtra's Palghar district.
This incident happened on Wednesday night when soil piles fell on an excavator machine during tunnel shaft excavation work of the Surya Water Supply Project at Sasun Navghar village in Vasai, Maharashtra's Palghar district.
"Yesterday evening, at approximately 9:00 PM, an incident occurred at the tunnel shaft excavation site of the Surya Water Supply Project, located at Vasai Creek in Sasunavghar Village. During the excavation work for crossing the creek, the soil along with piles suddenly collapsed at the inlet shaft location. The excavation depth at the time of the incident was around 20 meters. One Poclain operator is currently trapped in the tunnel shaft beneath the collapsed soil," MMRDA said in a statement on Thursday.
Metropolitan Commissioner of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), promptly took cognizance of the incident. MMRDA promptly notified local authorities, including the police, fire brigade, and the Collector's office.
"MMRDA swiftly commenced rescue operations using the available resources at the site. Additionally, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was informed through the Collector's office during the night. The NDRF team arrived at the site at approximately 5:00 AM to assist with the ongoing rescue efforts," it said.
MMRDA engineers are actively coordinating with district authorities to provide the necessary assistance and oversee the rescue operations. The team has been on-site, continuously monitoring the situation since the incident occurred.
"To conduct a thorough inspection and ascertain the cause of the incident, MMRDA has engaged Professor Abhay Bambole, Head of the Structural Engineering Department at VJTI Professor Bambole visited the site and is expected to submit a detailed report on his findings soon," MMRDA said.
The rescue operation remains a top priority, with efforts focused on safely extricating the trapped operator. The combined efforts of MMRDA, NDRF, and local authorities are crucial in managing this emergency and ensuring the safety of all personnel involved.
"MMRDA is committed to ensuring the safety of its workers and will take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Further details will be provided as the investigation progresses and more information becomes available," it added. (ANI)