Mumbai Tragedy: 14 Dead, 70+ Injured As Billboard And Tower Collapse In Storm

Mumbai witnessed a tragic day on Monday as fourteen individuals lost their lives and over 70 were injured in various rain-related incidents across the city. A 100-foot tall billboard, deemed illegal by civic officials, collapsed onto a petrol pump in the Ghatkopar area, resulting in eight fatalities and injuring 70 others. Additionally, an under-construction metal parking tower gave way in Wadala amid gusty winds, injuring three persons and causing damage to vehicles.

Photo Credit: PTI

The billboard tragedy at Cheddanagar Junction saw a massive rescue operation, with 78 people being extracted from the debris. A senior police officer confirmed that eight were declared dead and 70 injured, who were then rushed to different hospitals for treatment. In another incident, a tree branch fell on a shop in Bandra, trapping two individuals and leading to one fatality.

The unseasonal rain and dust storms also disrupted city life significantly. Flight operations at Mumbai airport were suspended for an hour due to low visibility, leading to the diversion of 15 flights. Local train services faced delays, and traffic congestion was reported across several areas.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the site of the hoarding collapse in Ghatkopar, announcing a structural audit of all billboards in Mumbai. He emphasized the immediate removal of those found illegal and dangerous, promising action against responsible parties. Shinde also announced financial aid of Rs 5 lakh for the families of each deceased victim.

Mumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani highlighted that the collapsed hoarding was unauthorized, as no permission had been granted for its erection. The incident has prompted the civic body to issue a notice for its immediate removal and lodge a criminal complaint against both the landholding authority and the billboard owner.

In response to these calamities, an NDRF team was deployed at Ghatkopar for search and rescue operations. The civic body has been actively removing the collapsed structures and addressing other damages caused by the storm.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported a total of 187 incidents of tree or branch falls within Mumbai and its suburbs on the day of the incidents. These occurrences have led to widespread disruptions, including damage to property and injuries to residents.

Local train services on Central Railway were suspended for over two hours after overhead equipment was damaged due to the storm, affecting commuters during the evening rush hour. Western Railway services also experienced delays.

The BMC has taken several measures in response to these incidents, including lodging an FIR related to the poisoning of trees near Chheda Nagar junction to increase visibility for billboards. This action underscores the civic body's commitment to addressing safety concerns and preventing future tragedies.

The events of Monday have left a significant impact on Mumbai, prompting authorities to reassess safety measures and infrastructure resilience in face of natural calamities. The government's response and subsequent actions will be crucial in preventing such incidents in the future and ensuring the safety of Mumbai's residents.