Mumbai Hoarding Collapse: Death Toll Rises to 16

A tragic incident occurred in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, where a massive billboard collapsed onto a petrol pump during a dust storm. A recent video captured the moment of the collapse, showing over 100 people trapped beneath the fallen hoarding.

The aftermath of the collapse has resulted in 16 fatalities and 41 serious injuries. The rescue operation, led by disaster response forces, concluded on Thursday.

The newly surfaced video depicts vehicles navigating cautiously through the storm, with heavy rain and water streams on the road. As the camera pans to the left, it captures vehicles at the fuel pump, some refueling while others seek shelter from the rain before the billboard collapses.

Public outrage has been sparked by the incident and its shocking visuals, highlighting concerns over civic negligence in allowing such massive billboards near the coastline.

The owner of the advertising agency responsible for the billboard, Bhavesh Bhinde, faces charges of culpable homicide. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced compensation for the families of the deceased and coverage of medical expenses for the injured.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation clarified that it had not granted permission for the hoarding and had been addressing the issue with relevant parties for the past two years. Following the incident, several other large hoardings in the city have been removed.

The rescue operation lasted 66 hours, concluding after the giant hoarding collapsed on Monday evening. The NDRF official called off the operation on Thursday morning, with BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani confirming its completion after inspecting the site.

The tragic incident claimed the lives of a retired general manager of Air Traffic Control (ATC) and his wife, with 75 others sustaining injuries. The bodies were retrieved from a car trapped under the structure, requiring the cutting of five interconnected girders.

Gagrani confirmed the death toll of 16 and stated that the search and rescue operation had ended. Clearance of debris from the site will continue throughout the day.