At least 14 people have died and over 70 others injured as a 120 feet hoarding collapsed in Mumbai due to heavy rains. The incident took place on Monday evening in the city’s Ghatkopar area.
As per the Hindustan Times, 75 people have suffered injuries, while 89 people have been rescued from under the rubble. All the injured people were rushed to hospitals. Thirty-one people were discharged later.
Meanwhile, the video of the collapse has gone viral on the Internet. Footage showed the tragic moment the giant hoarding came crashing on the ground.
The hoarding, measuring 120x120sqft, violated regulations, a Times of India report stated. As per the local civic body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a hoarding can have a maximum size of 40x40sqft. It also weighed a whooping 250 tons, the media outlet reported.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police have registered a case under sections 304, 338, 337, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code against Bhavesh Bhide and others at Pantnagar police station. Bhide has been identified as the owner of the hoarding.
An ex-gratia amount of INR 5 lakhs (USD 5,986) for the deceased’s kin has been announced by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The deaths were condoled by India’s President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.