Mumbai Tragedy: 73 Vehicles Retrieved After Hoarding Crash; Debris Removal Ongoing

In a tragic incident that unfolded in Mumbai, a massive hoarding crash at a petrol pump in suburban Ghatkopar has resulted in the loss of 16 lives, leaving 75 others injured. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner, Bhushan Gagrani, declared the conclusion of a 66-hour-long search and rescue operation on Thursday morning. Despite the official end of the operation, efforts to clear the wreckage continued, with more than 70 vehicles being retrieved from the debris.

The calamity struck on Monday evening amid gusty winds and heavy unseasonal rains, causing a 120 feet x 120 feet billboard to collapse onto the petrol pump below. This incident trapped individuals and vehicles under its colossal wreckage. The BMC's rescue team worked tirelessly, managing to retrieve the last two bodies trapped in a car beneath a girder shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

A BMC official reported that a total of 73 vehicles, including 30 two-wheelers, 31 four-wheelers, eight autorickshaws, and two heavy vehicles, all damaged in the crash, were recovered from the site. These vehicles have since been handed over to the police as their owners have come forward to claim them.

To aid in the search and rescue operation, two teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed since Monday evening. Additionally, the Mumbai Fire Brigade had deployed 12 fire engines along with several other vehicles for the operation. All these resources were withdrawn after the completion of the rescue efforts.

Despite the conclusion of the operation, another civic official mentioned that the Fire Brigade has kept three fire tenders and some senior officials posted at the site as a precautionary measure. This decision was made considering the fuel stock present in the tanks of the petrol pump, highlighting ongoing concerns for public safety in the aftermath of this disaster.

The incident has not only highlighted the dangers posed by unseasonal weather conditions but also raised questions about safety measures in place at public facilities like petrol pumps. As Mumbai recovers from this tragedy, attention is now turning towards ensuring such incidents do not recur in the future.