On May 13, Mumbai was hit by a sudden and intense dust storm that shrouded the city in darkness. Residents turned to social media to share their experiences of the chaotic situation.
14 individuals lost their lives, and more than 70 others were injured as a massive billboard collapsed during the storm that hit Mumbai on Monday evening.
The 100-foot billboard, located across from a fuel station in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area, couldn’t withstand the intensity of the storm and collapsed forcefully, landing directly on the fuel station below.
CCTV footage in the vicinity recorded the metal structure ripping through car roofs before hitting the ground with a heavy thud. A search and rescue operation is underway, with the NDRF sending two teams to assist in coordination with the Mumbai Fire Brigade and other relevant agencies.
The billboard was installed by Ego Media on land leased to the Police Welfare Corporation by Maharashtra government’s Police Housing Division. The premises had four hoardings from Ego Media, one of which collapsed on Monday evening.
Mumbai Police filed a case against the owner of Ego Media and others involved in the incident. While Ego Media had permission from the Assistant Commissioner of Police Railways for all four hoardings, including the one that collapsed, they did not acquire authorization or No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the BMC before installing them. As a result, the BMC has issued a notice to the Railway Police’s ACP and the Railway Commissioner, requesting the cancellation of all permissions granted by the Railways and the removal of the hoardings.
Maharashtra Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, while visiting the location of the collapse and pledged that his government would conduct a thorough structural assessment of all billboards in the city. He said, “The hoardings, if found illegal and dangerous, would be removed immediately.
He further added, “It is a very unfortunate incident. The government will probe it, and the people responsible will face action. I have also asked the BMC commissioner to conduct a structural audit of all the hoardings in the city.”
the The Chief Minister also declared financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the families of each individual who lost their lives in the billboard collapse.
The storm on Monday evening severely impacted transportation systems, causing local trains and airport services to come to a standstill.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) had to temporarily halt flight operations due to low visibility and strong winds caused by the storm. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued urgent alerts, predicting thunderstorms with lightning and significant rainfall for Mumbai and its neighboring areas.
Although the unexpected rain provided relief from the intense heat, power failures in several districts, including Kalwa in Thane, brought additional challenges for residents already dealing with the storm’s aftermath. Reports of uprooted trees and structural damage also emerged from satellite towns like Thane, Ambernath, Badlapur, Kalyan, and Ulhasnagar.
