Pune: Two 36-year-old men who suffered life-threatening injuries in the Moshi waste-to-energy plant collapse earlier this month have made what doctors are calling a “miraculous” recovery. After nearly three weeks of advanced multidisciplinary trauma care at Medicover Hospital, both survivors have been stabilised and discharged.The two patients were admitted with severe polytrauma on July 9 after being rescued from under the debris. One of the survivors, identified as Raut, was pulled from the wreckage nearly 14 hours after the structure collapsed.Recalling the ordeal, Raut said, “I was having my meal when everything suddenly started shaking. I thought it was an earthquake. Within moments, a massive heap of debris collapsed, trapping me. I remained buried for 14 hours, uncertain if I would survive. Thanks to the rescue teams and the medical staff, I have been given a second chance at life.”Raut’s condition was critical upon arrival, involving a massive open wound on his left thigh, skull and forehead fractures, tendon injuries to his left hand, and a lumbar spine fracture.A multidisciplinary team comprising specialists in orthopaedics, plastic surgery, neurosurgery, critical care, Nephrology, and gastroenterology—initiated emergency management within minutes. Under the leadership of orthopaedic surgeon Dr Rahul Dula Gagare and plastic surgeon Dr Deepak Sadashiv Patil, Raut underwent multiple staged surgeries. These included emergency wound debridement, vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy, and the application of a biodegradable temporising matrix (BTM) for soft tissue reconstruction.“The patient was in the ICU from July 9 to July 12, receiving continuous monitoring and blood transfusions,” said Dr Gagare. “Following steady improvement and intensive physiotherapy, he was discharged today (July 29) in stable condition.”The second survivor, identified as Patil, faced a similarly harrowing recovery. He required immediate critical care and remained in the ICU until July 15. After undergoing necessary surgeries and rehabilitation, he was discharged on Tuesday.“The incident happened so suddenly that none of us had time to react,” Patil said. “From emergency surgeries to rehabilitation, the medical team’s expertise and encouragement helped me recover. I feel fortunate to be alive.”Dr Patil said extensive soft tissue damage required modern wound management approaches. “Techniques like VAC therapy and BTM application significantly aided tissue healing and will contribute to the patients’ long-term functional recovery,” he ed.The hospital’s critical care team said seamless coordination among specialties ensured timely interventions and minimised complications. Doctors added that the successful recovery of the survivors underscores the vital importance of rapid rescue, early trauma assessment, and integrated specialist care in managing high-impact urban disasters.
