Mumbai:
A large billboard collapsed during a severe storm in Mumbai on Monday evening, killing fourteen people and injuring over 70 more. The 100-foot building, which was put up in front of a gas station in Ghatkopar, was unable to endure the severity of the storm and collapsed heavily onto the station below. The metal framework was seen on CCTV footage smashing through many car roofs before plummeting to the ground.
A search and rescue operation is under underway, with the NDRF deploying two teams to work alongside the Mumbai Fire Brigade and other relevant organizations. The billboard, placed by Ego Media on land leased to the Police Welfare Corporation by the Maharashtra government’s Police Housing Division, has provoked legal action, with Mumbai Police launching a lawsuit against the owner of Ego Media and those involved.
Despite gaining approval from the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Railways) for all four hoardings on the premises, including the collapsed one, Ego Media did not obtain license or a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the BMC before installing them. As a result, the BMC sent a notice to the Railway Police’s ACP and the Railway Commissioner, demanding that all approvals granted by the Railways be cancelled and the hoardings be removed.
On Monday evening, Mumbai was besieged by a sudden and intense dust storm, leaving the city in darkness. Residents took to social media to share their accounts of the hectic scenario. The storm caused havoc on transportation networks, bringing local trains and airport services to a halt owing to poor visibility and high winds.As a precaution, flight operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) have been temporarily paused.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an urgent warning for thunderstorms with lightning and heavy rainfall in Mumbai and the nearby areas. While the unseasonal rain provided relief from the searing heat, power disruptions in several districts, notably Kalwa in Thane, increased the problems faced by inhabitants already grappling with the storm’s aftermath. Satellite towns including Thane, Ambernath, Badlapur, Kalyan, and Ulhasnagar reported uprooted trees and building damage. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the collapse site and promised that his government would undertake a thorough structural examination of all hoardings in the city. “Any hoardings found to be illegal and unsafe will be promptly removed,” he said. “This is a very tragic situation, and the government will conduct a full investigation, with those responsible facing appropriate consequences. I have directed the BMC commissioner to perform a structural examination of all hoardings in the city, and any deemed to be unlawful or unsafe will be dismantled.” The Chief Minister has given financial help of ₹5 lakh to families of those who died in the billboard crash.
