A billboard collapsed in Mumbai during a sudden storm claiming the lives of at least 14 individuals and injuring over 70 others. The incident happened in the suburb of Ghatkopar.
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On a Monday evening, a powerful dust storm swept across Mumbai, the 100-foot hoarding, erected opposite a fuel station, came crashing down with force.
CCTV footage captured the moment as the metal structure tore through roofs and vehicles before plummeting to the ground.
Shockingly it emerged that the advertising agency responsible for the hoarding, Ego Media Pvt Ltd, had not obtained clearance from the civic body before installing the structure.
Despite being granted permission by the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Railways), no authorization or No Objection Certificate (NOC) was secured from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Following the incident the Maharashtra government swiftly initiated measures to address the situation. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the site of the collapse, a thorough structural audit of all hoardings in the city.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to removing any illegal and hazardous structures, a crackdown on non-compliant entities.
The situation was by the registration of a case against the owner of Ego Media Pvt Ltd, Bhavesh Bhinde, and others implicated in the incident. Charges including culpable homicide and endangering public safety were brought forth.
As investigations unfolded focus shifted to Bhavesh Bhinde, whose agency’s negligence was deemed a contributing factor to the tragedy.
Allegations of Bhinde’s absence and attempts to evade accountability surfaced, with authorities made efforts to locate him and ensure he faces justice for the lives lost.
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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) ordered the removal of remaining hoardings on Government Railway Police (GRP) land at Chheda Nagar, the site of the collapse.
The swift mobilization of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams in collaboration with the Mumbai Fire Brigade and other agencies exemplified the effort to restore normalcy.
Among those caught in the chaos was Akshay Vasant Patil, a 20-year-old courier service worker, who escaped the billboard’s descent.
His experience shows the terror that gripped individuals as they hit by the sudden calamity. Bharat, a 24-year-old commuter seeking shelter from the rain claimed his life.
Authorities launched an inquiry into the incident to ascertain the circumstances leading to the billboard’s collapse. It was revealed that the structure far exceeded permissible dimensions.
The Maharashtra state government Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pledged financial assistance to the affected families.
Mumbai has struggled with a series of secondary mishaps precipitated by the storm. Recently, A scaffolding collapse in Wadala and a tree-related accident in Bandra.
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