Mumbai: A devastating incident unfolded in Mumbai on Monday evening as a massive billboard collapsed during a fierce storm, leaving 14 people dead and over 70 injured. The 100-foot structure, situated opposite a fuel station in the Ghatkopar area, succumbed to the ferocity of the storm, crashing down with alarming force onto the fuel station below.
CCTV footage captured the horrifying moment when the metal structure tore through the roofs of several cars before crashing onto the ground. The aftermath of the collapse prompted a swift response from rescue teams, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) dispatching two teams to assist in collaboration with the Mumbai Fire Brigade and other agencies.
The billboard was erected by Ego Media on a plot leased to the Police Welfare Corporation by the Maharashtra government’s Police Housing Division. Despite obtaining permission for all four hoardings from the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Railways), including the one that collapsed, Ego Media failed to secure authorization or a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the BMC before installation.
As investigations into the incident commence, Mumbai Police have registered a case against the owner of Ego Media and others implicated in the tragedy. The BMC has issued a notice to the Railway Police’s ACP and the Railway Commissioner, demanding the cancellation of all permissions granted by the Railways and the removal of the hoardings.
The collapse occurred amid a sudden and powerful dust storm that swept across Mumbai, plunging the metropolis into darkness. Residents took to social media to share accounts of the chaos, while transport networks bore the brunt of the storm’s fury. Local trains and airport services ground to a halt, forcing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to suspend flight operations temporarily due to low visibility and gusty winds.
Urgent warnings issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and heavy rain for Mumbai and surrounding areas. While the unseasonal rain brought relief from the sweltering heat, power outages and reports of uprooted trees and structural damage added further hardships for residents.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the site of the collapse, pledging a thorough investigation into the incident. “The government will probe it, and the people responsible will face action,” he stated. Additionally, he announced financial aid of ₹5 lakh to the families of each person killed in the tragedy.
As Mumbai grapples with the aftermath of the storm and the tragic loss of lives, authorities are working tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of residents, while calls for accountability and preventive measures grow louder.
