India, July 12 -- Every few minutes, someone would walk up to a police personnel or rescue worker with the same question: "Have you found anyone?"

For nearly 81 hours, families of staff trapped in the Moshi garbage depot building collapse remained outside the accident site, refusing to leave despite heavy rain, foul odour and uncertainty. Some spent three nights and four days sleeping in vehicles or under temporary shelters, while others travelled hundreds of kilometres after receiving calls about the accident.

They waited as excavators removed tonnes of garbage, rescuers searched through unstable debris and officials promised updates.

Sliding waste

By Saturday night, when the rescue operation completed 81 hours, the wait had ended in...