A huge billboard has collapsed onto pedestrians in the Ghatkopar region of Mumbai, India, amid severe thunderstorms, leaving at least 14 people dead.
The 14,400-square-foot billboard fell over due to strong winds in the evening of May 13, trapping around 89 people under it. Twenty-one hours have passed since the incident at the time of writing, and rescue operations are still underway.
The National Disaster Response Force of India told reporters that a swift cleanup and rescue effort is proving quite difficult as the massive billboard collapsed over a gas station, and as a result, rescue operatives cannot use gasoline-powered and oxyfuel cutter equipment. The Press Trust of India, or PTI, spoke to officials and reported that 75 people had been injured in the incident and had been rushed to hospitals in Mumbai and Thane, with one of them in critical condition. Thirty-two of the injured have already been discharged from medical care. However, 14 people succumbed to their injuries.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, which manages the location, has been posting timely updates regarding the situation on X.
“Municipal Commissioner & Administrator Shri. Bhushan Gagrani visited the incident site where a hoarding collapsed in the Chheda Nagar area of Ghatkopar,” its latest update reads. “He inspected the rescue operations and took stock of the situation.” It added that several high-ranking officials were also present to supervise the ongoing rescue efforts.
Eknath Shinde, the chief minister of Maharashtra, has expressed his condolences to the families of the affected and promised a sum of Rupees Five Lakhs (around $6,000) to the next kin of the victims as compensation. “It is a painful and sad incident, I myself visited the spot yesterday. The government will bear all the expenses of the people injured in this incident,” Mr. Shinde told reporters, according to a video published by ANI on X.
The chief minister added that a “case of culpable homicide has been registered” against Bhavesh Bhinde, director of Ego Media Pty Ltd and the owner of the billboard.
Smt. Droupadi Murmu, the President of India, has also expressed her condolences on X, praying for the “speedy recovery of the injured” and wishing for the “success of the relief and rescue operations.”
Mumbai Authorities Promise Crackdown on Illegal Billboards in City
The incident in Mumbai has raised concern about the legality of the massive billboard and led to a crackdown on all illegal billboards across the city. Bhushan Gagrani, the Commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, said in a statement to ANI that the billboard that collapsed in Ghatkopar was not permitted by the Municipality.
Furthermore, the Press Trust of India cited officials saying that the civic body limits billboard sizes to only 1,600 square feet in size. The collapsed billboard was 14,400 square feet.
“[The Municipality] has ordered that action be taken against all illegal hoarding in the city,” Mr. Gagrani said in a statement to reporters, according to ANI. “We are starting that today. A case has been registered in this case. This hoarding did not have any permission. A complaint was also received that some trees were also cut so that this hoarding would be visible. We have also registered a case again.”
It is notable that Bhavesh Bhinde, the owner of the billboard, is currently missing. Notable politician and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiyah has alleged that Mr. Bhinde has “fled” and should be declared a fugitive by the police, per ANI.
