The death toll in the billboard collapse in Mumbai's Ghatkopar has risen to 14, with 74 others injured. During a dust storm and unexpected rainfall in Mumbai on Monday, a 100-foot long illegal hoarding at a petrol pump in Ghatkopar toppled over. However, this is not the first instance of such an accident. Cities across the country grapple with the menace of illegal billboards. In the wake of accidents, governments and administrations claim to be alert and promise action, but the execution of such policies eventually slows down, and the hazardous trade of billboards begins to play with people's lives once again, as the responsible departments brush off accountability. Just a year ago, the collapse of an illegal billboard in Pune had claimed five lives.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar stated that strict action will be taken against those responsible for the incident in the city. Phansalkar visited the site on Monday evening to gather information and assured journalists of action against those accountable. A case of culpable homicide and other related offenses under the Indian Penal Code has been filed against the owner of M/s. Ego Media Private Limited, Bhavesh Bhinde, and others at the Pant Nagar Police Station.
The CM has ordered an audit of all billboards in Mumbai
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials, a search and rescue operation was also conducted at the petrol pump in Chheda Nagar on Tuesday morning. Officials stated that the hoarding was unauthorized and not permit had been granted for its installation. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who visited the site on Monday evening, stated, 'This is a very unfortunate incident. The government will conduct an investigation and take action against the responsible. I have also instructed the BMC commissioner to audit all billboards in the city. Those found illegal and dangerous will be removed.' The CM announced financial support of 5 lakh rupees to the family of each deceased person. The question arises: Who shall be held responsible for deaths due to natural calamities?
Read: 'I was lucky to survive, people were crushed right before me', a witness recounts the 120-foot tall billboard collapse story
Who is responsible?
In cities, it is the government's responsibility to assign the duty of billboard regulation to municipal bodies, which in turn authorize agencies for the task. These agencies decide the location and placement of billboards on behalf of advertisers for a specified duration. The possibility of billboard collapses increases during monsoons due to heavy rains and storms, leading to hazardous accidents. Agencies found negligent can be blacklisted by the government and their licenses revoked.
In the event of fatalities due to billboard collapses, action can be taken against the municipal corporation or the billboard installing agency. The government can also provide compensation. Affected families can approach the court, and if the body or agency is found guilty of installing illegal or improper billboards, courts can order compensation.
Read: Illegal billboards, the accident, and 14 deaths... Mumbai's billboard collapse has injured 74 so far, revealing these oversights
Why do citizens have problems with billboards?
Illegal posters and billboards are often installed at most intersections, signals and junctions, causing major issues for people. They lead to constricted roadways and obscured vision around the movement of traffic, causing inconvenience to pedestrians. Traffic disruptions are also frequent, and in some cases, these billboards prove to be fatal. Illegal signage causes hassles for locals and shopkeepers, sometimes even obscuring the entry gate of a store. Accidents occur when roads are covered with flex banners, and they often remain unremoved for months, becoming an incessant problem. Due to lack of maintenance, constant damage and breakdowns are witnessed, from intersections to narrow lanes, tarnishing the aesthetic appeal of cities.
How can we solve the issue?
Urban citizens commonly suggest that governments should allocate specific areas for a limited number of posters. Furthermore, companies and advertisement agencies should also effectively utilize social media for promotions. Governments should strategize on limiting the effects on urban life, including impacts on public health and the environment. LED setups should also be considered to reduce any adverse effects, and traditional methods of poster installation should be halted.
In April 2023, a billboard in Pune collapsed
A major mishap occurred in Pune district's Pimpri Chinchwad in April 2023. In the Ravet Kivale area, the billboard collapse resulted in five fatalities, including four women and a man. Two others were injured. A gusty wind caused people to seek shelter under a metal billboard at a puncture shop, which then fell on them. Other areas in Pune have similarly seen fallen billboards during windy conditions.
Read: Mumbai: 14 lives lost, 74 injured, 15,000 square feet of billboard installed without permission, company faces FIR
In June, a mother and daughter died in Lucknow
In June 2023, a tragic event occurred at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Ekana) Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, where a large billboard fell on a car, resulting in the death of a woman and her daughter and injuring their driver. Doctors at the Lohia Hospital declared the mother and her 15-year-old daughter, Angel, dead. The vehicle, a Scorpio, was crushed under the billboard's weight, and the deceased were residents of the Indira Nagar colony.
What happened in Pune 6 years ago?
In 2018, four people died and seven were injured when a billboard frame collapsed near Juna Bazar in Pune, damaging several vehicles. Pune's Shivaji Nagar is among the busiest locales. A railway engineer and an employee were arrested in the case. Police charged the contractor, subcontractor, and others with culpable homicide. Five years before the incident, in 2013, Pune Municipal Corporation had warned the railway administration through a letter that the billboards were unauthorized and dangerous, but the warning was ignored. The railway administration had begun dismantling the billboard due to its poor condition when it collapsed on six rickshaws, a car, and two motorcycles at a signal.
What occurred in Chennai 5 years ago?
The incident dates back to September 2019. 23-year-old Subashree was riding her scooter along the Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam radial road when an illegal billboard fell on her. She was thrown off her scooter and pinned underneath. A tanker truck, coming at a high speed, collided with the scooter, causing severe head injuries and her subsequent death at the hospital. Subhashree, a software engineer, was wearing a helmet. The billboard was installed by a local leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The Madras High Court had previously issued orders to ban billboards and cut-outs.
Read: Mumbai Metro: Storm turns deadly in Mumbai, billboard collapse wreaks havoc
Bombay High Court expressed irritation with illegal billboards
In December 2023, the Bombay High Court chastised the Maharashtra government, declaring that residents wanted to rid Mumbai of these eyesores, which disfigure the metropolis. The court stated that if appropriate action is taken against those installing such billboards, Mumbai could be free from these tarnishing signboards. The court questioned whether agencies enforcing the law would be effective in dealing with these issues or those who do not comply. All urban bodies were directed to act against illegal billboards and banners. The bench expressed concern that the government was unable to enforce common orders. In April 2024, the Bombay High Court declared that public spaces should not be used for personal gain. While hearing Public Interest Litigations (PILs) related to illegal billboards across Maharashtra, the bench emphasized that they posed dangers to pedestrians.
