The death toll reached 14 in the Mumbai hoarding collapse incident, over 74 trapped people have been rescued till now. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) worked overnight to excavate through the wreckage of the collapsed billboard.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials informed that the rescue operations are going on at the Chheda Nagar-based petrol pump on Tuesday morning, reported PTI.
Eknath Shinde, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, has declared a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased, along with stating that the government will cover all medical expenses for the injured.
According to an official cited by PTI, a case has been registered against the owner of M/s Ego Media Private Limited, Bhavesh Bhinde and others for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code at Pant Nagar police station.
The billboard was illegal and no permission was taken to install it, reported PTI. The structure crashed down right in the middle of the fueling facility when the unseasonable rains lashed the city on Monday.
#BreakingNews : मुंबई में होर्डिंग गिरने से 12 लोगों की मौत, तेज आंधी से घाटकोपर में गिरा था होर्डिंग, कई गाड़ियां होर्डिंग में दबी#Mumbai #DustStorm | @anchorjiya @Nilesh_isme pic.twitter.com/QeLqCDCwFv
— Zee News (@ZeeNews) May 14, 2024
The incident was reported around 5pm, NDRF Inspector Gaurav Chauhan told ANI last night. He added, “A huge advertising hoarding fell on a petrol pump. Around 65 people have been rescued. NDRF has rescued three people and located four dead bodies under the rubble. We are unable to use hydraulic and gasoline equipment to avoid any fire incident. We are using cranes to remove the debris. NDRF has rescued three victims. Before that 65 had been rescued. The rescue operations will continue till the morning.”
President Droupadi Murmu took to ‘X’ to condole the victims of the incident, she wrote in hindi, “The news of several casualties due to the collapse of a hoarding in Ghatkopar area of Mumbai is extremely sad. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and wish for the success of the relief and rescue operations.”
मुंबई के घाटकोपर क्षेत्र में होर्डिंग गिरने से अनेक लोगों के हताहत होने का समाचार अत्यंत दुखद है। मैं शोक संतप्त परिवारजनों के प्रति गहन संवेदना व्यक्त करती हूं। मैं घायल हुए लोगों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की प्रार्थना करती हूं तथा राहत और बचाव कार्य की सफलता की कामना करती हूं।
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) May 13, 2024