Over 14 people died and 74 others were injured after a hoarding collapsed in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area amid a rare and fierce dust storm that hit the maximum city on Monday, 13 May, according to a report by PTI.
The approximately 100-foot tall hoarding was reportedly situated next to a petrol pump on the Eastern Express Highway (EEH). Lashed by gusty winds and a brief spell of rainfall, the structure reportedly came down on victims who were having their vehicles refuelled or taking shelter at the petrol pump.
A case has been filed against Bhavesh Bhinde, the head of outdoor advertising agency Ego Media in connection with the collapse of the giant hoarding, The Indian Express reported.
Rescue and relief work underway near the site of the hoarding collapse at Ghatkopar in Mumbai.
(Photo: PTI)
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Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the site of the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of the deceased victims.
Additionally, Shinde ordered a structural audit of all hoardings in Mumbai and further directed authorities to remove such structures that were illegal or dangerous.
Meanwhile, rescue operations are still underway at the spot where the hoarding collapsed. "There are two teams including 53 personnel. We are continuing this operation for last 18 hours," Disaster Response Force (DRF) Inspector Gaurav Chauhan was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
"The hoarding fell on petrol pump and hence we are not using the cutting equipment. It can cause spark and create other scenario. We used hydraulic crane but it was not successful. We are using manual technique. The operation is expected to be over by this evening," he added.
'Hoarding Was Illegal, Unauthorised': BMC Chief
In a statement after the tragic incident, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said that permission had not been given by the civic body for the construction of the giant hoarding.
"It was an illegal hoarding. The location where the incident occurred has four hoardings set up on the railway land and one of them has collapsed. The BMC had been objecting to (setting up) hoardings for one year," BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani was quoted as saying.
He also revealed that the civic body had filed an FIR in May last year as a few trees had been poisoned in order to construct the hoarding that collapsed on Monday.
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