The colossal billboard collapse in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, due to strong wind gusts, has sparked conversations worldwide. Sixteen souls perished in this tragic event, affecting dozens of families. Exclusive information obtained by our sources reveals a startling fact: the fallen billboard's pillar was merely 4-5 feet deep. This raises a critical question - was the weak foundation to blame for the billboard's inability to withstand the wind's fury?
We've shown you some pillars of the billboard, highlighting how they were uprooted from the ground. The strong winds led to the billboard crashing onto a petrol pump, where people were either refueling or seeking shelter from the wind.
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The Unsettling Depth of the 120-foot Billboard Pillars
Experts and officials are of the opinion that an accident was inevitable due to the weak foundation of the billboard pillars, which were only embedded 4-5 feet into the ground. As the families of the deceased and injured demand strict action, questions are being raised about the administrative lapses that allowed this tragedy to occur.
Source: aajtak
How Was the Billboard Permission Granted?
In the wake of the billboard tragedy, the BMC issued a statement indicating that permission to erect the billboard had been given by the Railway ACP. The railway authority later clarified that permission for installing the billboard near the petrol pump was granted by the then GRP Commissioner Kaizar Khalid, in December 2021, for a ten-year period.
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Three Years of Complaints Met with No Action
The billboard's operation, conducted by Ego Media Private Limited, had reportedly caused damage to some trees during its construction. Despite complaints over a three-year span, no action was taken. Post-accident, the GRP states that action was delayed and the billboard collapsed before they could intervene. According to claims, the company operating the billboard had also been notified.
