In Mumbai on Monday, a massive billboard in the Ghatkopar area came crashing down due to a dust storm, leading to a major calamity. By Tuesday morning, the death toll rose to 14, with at least 74 people injured. Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) worked through the night to free those trapped under the billboard. Officials stated that the billboard was constructed without the city council's permission.
The billboard fell onto a petrol station along the side of the Eastern Express Highway in Pant Nagar, where a large number of people were present. This billboard was roughly 17,040 square feet and had been previously mentioned in the Limca Book of Records as the biggest billboard. According to the BMC, there were four billboards at the location which had been approved by the ACP (Administration) for the Police Commissioner (Mumbai Railway). The BMC's statement mentioned, 'Prior to erecting the billboards, the agency/railway had not taken any permission/NOC from the BMC.'
BMC files FIR against the agency responsible for billboard installation
A complaint was filed against the agency M/s Ego Media responsible for constructing the billboard, leading the BMC to register an FIR. BMC stated it permits billboards up to 40 x 40 square feet in size. However, the fallen billboard measured 120 x 120 square feet. BMC has issued a notice to the agency (M/s Ego) to immediately remove all its billboards due to lack of permission.
To ensure billboard visibility, 8 trees were fatally poisoned
After visiting the BMC headquarters' disaster control room and speaking with the media, BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani stated, 'It was an illegal billboard. Four billboards were installed on railway land at the location of the incident, and one of them has fallen. BMC had been objecting to the installation of the billboards for a year.' He revealed, 'In order to ensure the billboard was unobstructed, 8 trees near Chheda Nagar junction were poisoned (chemicals were poured into their roots to kill them). Regarding this, the BMC had filed an FIR on May 19, 2023.'
CM Shinde announces compensation of ₹5 lakh
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the accident site on Monday to assess the situation. He announced an ex-gratia amount of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased and stated that the state government would bear the medical expenses of the injured. In another incident in Wadala, a metal structure collapsed. At 4:22 PM at Barkat Ali Naka, Wadala near Shriji Tower, the metal/steel parking fell, affecting many vehicles parked alongside the road. One person was trapped inside a car. The Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) conducted the rescue.
Incidents also occurred in Bandra and Jogeshwari, resulting in one fatality
According to the BMC, another incident in Bandra involved a branch of an Umber tree falling on Hill Road near Khimji Palace, trapping two people under an asbestos shed. Abdul Khan, 38, was seriously injured, while Irfan Khan, 35, passed away. In Jogeshwari's Meghwadi Naka area, strong winds uprooted a tree, injuring one person and damaging an autorickshaw.
