Mumbai hoarding collapse: Eight killed, dozens injured as hoarding collapses in Mumbai amid rain and gusty winds. NDRF team joins rescue operation.
At least eight people died and dozens were injured after a towering hoarding advertised alongside a petrol pump in Mumbai collapsed amid rain and gutsy winds. The incident occurred at around 4.30 pm near Chheda Nagar Gymkhana in the Ghatkopar area when the weather in the city suddenly changed with dust storm and rain.
Over 100 people were initially trapped after the 100-foot-tall illegal billboard fell on the petrol pump, triggering a search and rescue operation. An NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) team joined the rescue operation, said Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani.
Gaglani told HT that the hoarding was illegal as the BMC had not issued permission (for construction).
“The billboard that fell in Ghatkopar was illegal as it did not have a license. We will check the license of all billboards in Mumbai and if there is no license, it will be considered illegal.”
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said: He said 57 people were rescued and taken to Rajwadi Hospital for emergency treatment.
“I have requested the city commissioner to conduct a special audit of all billboards in Mumbai city and take action against those responsible for illegal billboards,” Shinde said.
The Chief Minister also announced that he would pay Rs 500,000 as initial compensation to the relatives of the deceased. The government will also cover the medical expenses of the injured, it added.
Mr Ganrani earlier told media personnel that a crane and (gas) cutting machine had arrived at the scene for rescue operations.
“There were four billboards erected on the railway premises where the incident took place, of which one collapsed.BMC has been raising its voice against hoarding for a year now. ”, said a civic leader.
However, Central Railway said that the storage is not located on the railway premises and has no connection with Indian Railways.
Officials said the agency does not allow signs larger than 40 by 40 feet.
He said on May 19, 2023, in connection with the poisoning of eight trees at a location near Chheda Nagar intersection, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation issued a statement on May 19, 2023 to increase the visibility of the affected signboards. He said he had filed an FIR on the same day.
“We have repeatedly raised this issue for action,” he claimed, adding that the BMC’s licensing department had also issued a notification.