Pune: Frustration spilled over at Moshi’s waste-to-energy plant on Friday after relatives of those still trapped beneath the debris accused the authorities of a slow rescue operation in the absence of senior political leaders at the site. Friday was the third day of the search, more than 54 hours after the three-storey administrative building of plant buckled when a mountain of garbage collapsed on it.Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar resident Santosh Kumbhar, whose brother Mahesh Kumbhar, an HR executive at the plant, is among those trapped, alleged that there had been little progress in the rescue operation.“Since Thursday, the municipal corporation has only been clearing garbage using JCBs around a small building. People who may still be alive are trapped inside, but there is no visible progress on the ground,” he said.Satish Gaikwad, whose brother Rahul and cousin Nagesh are among those feared trapped, said the families were waiting for information.“The situation at the site is no different from what it was when the rescue teams stopped work last night. We do not know whether my brother and cousin are alive or dead. Our family members keep calling us for updates, but we have no answers,” he said. Since no senior civic officials or politicians are present, the rescue operation has slowed down, he added.The mother-in-law of Sunny Mane, another person feared trapped, alleged that the operation has slowed significantly overnight.“The rescue teams were working yesterday, but late at night the operation became slow. Only two or three JCBs were operating and very few personnel were at the site. More machinery should have been deployed to speed up the rescue. What can be more important for politicians and civic officials when eight people are still trapped under the debris.” she said.Sunita Kasbe, whose husband Waman Kasbe is also among those trapped, claimed rescue teams delayed searching the area where he is believed to be buried under a heap of garbage outside the building.“My husband is suspected to be trapped under the garbage that collapsed outside the building. Despite repeatedly informing the authorities, the search did not begin there. Three JCBs have now been deployed, but this should have happened yesterday. Nobody was willing to believe that someone outside the building could also be trapped under the garbage,” she said.The relatives said state minister Girish Mahajan was the only senior member of govt to have visited the site so far. They added that local MLA Mahesh Landge visited the site once, while MP Amol Kolhe had not visited till Friday. The mayor, they claimed, had visited only twice since the incident. Political leaders, including Prakash Ambedkar and MP Shrirang Barne, visited the site.Rescue according to NDRF protocol: PCMC chiefMunicipal commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi said the rescue operation was as per National Disaster Response Force’s standard operating proceduresThe NDRF is the most trained force for rescue operations with its own protocol and has been working tirelessly without break, he addedRelatives will feel the operation is slow because their loved ones are trapped. Any one of us would feel the same in such a situation. But the operation is being conducted strictly according to protocol. There has been no deviation, and the operation is not slow at allVijay Suryawanshi I Municipal commissioner
