Mumbai hoarding collapse: FIR filed, illegal billboard owner goes missing

At least 14 persons died and 74 were injured after a 100 feet tall illegal billboard fell at a petrol pump in Ghatkopar during dust storms and unseasonal rains that lashed Mumbai on Monday, according to civic officials.

The Mumbai Police have registered a case of against Bhavesh Bhinde, the owner of Ego Media Private Limited, and others responsible for putting up a illegal hoarding in Ghatkopar which collapsed during a storm on May 13, killing 14 people.

A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was registered at the Pant Nagar police station, an official said.

Civic officials said at least 14 people were killed and 74 injured after a 100-feet tall illegal billboard fell at a petrol pump in Ghatkopar during the dust storm and unseasonal rains that lashed Mumbai on May 13.

Police searched Bhinde's residence in the Mulund suburb of the nation's financial capital but he was not there, a Times of India report said. Teams have been formed to find him, the police said.

Early this year, a case of rape was registered against Bhinde, the Indian Express reported.  He was given anticipatory bail by the Bombay High Court. The 51-year-old had contested the Maharashtra assembly elections in 2009 and said in his election affidavit that he was fined at least 21 times for putting up illegal hoardings around the city, the report said.

Moneycontrol couldn't verify the reports independently.

Search and rescue operations were on at the Chheda Nagar petrol pump on May 14 morning, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials said.

Mumbai hoarding collapse: Check all the live updates here

Mumbai police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar said strict action would be taken against those responsible for the hoarding collapse.

"Heartfelt condolences to families who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate mishap at Ghatkopar. @MumbaiPolice team is on the spot in the rescue operation. We assure citizens that stringent legal action will be taken against those responsible for this mishap,” Phansalkar said in a post on the X platform.

The billboard was illegal and had been installed with permission, civic officials said. Chief minister Eknath Shinde visited the accident site late in the evening and ordered a structural audit of all hoardings in the city.

Shinde also announced an aid of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of each of the person killed.

With inputs from PTI