A fresh video -- capturing the moment when a huge illegal hoarding crashed on a petrol pump in Ghatkopar area of Mumbai -- has surfaced on social media. The video shows the 120 ft x 120 ft billboard collapsing on the roof of the petrol pump amid gusty winds and rain.
More footage of the 100-foot tall billboard collapse during a dust storm in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, India ?????? 13 May 2024 ??#Ghatkopar #India #collapse #billboard pic.twitter.com/RRT5uysGXt
— DISASTER TRACKER (@DisasterTrackHQ) May 13, 2024
On Thursday, the search and rescue operation at the accident site was called off, PTI reported citing an official of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The operation went on for 66 hours after the giant hoarding collapsed and concluded at 10:30 am on Thursday.
The bodies of a retired general manager of Air Traffic Control (ATC) and his wife were pulled out from a car stuck underneath the structure shortly after midnight on Wednesday, taking the death toll to 16. About 75 people have been injured as a result of the accident which took place on Monday.
A case has been registered against Bhavesh Bhinde, the owner of M/s Ego Media Private Limited, the advertising agency that installed the hoarding, and others for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code at Pant Nagar police station.
According to civic officials, the billboard was illegal and no permission was taken to install it.
Shortly after the incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reached the site to take stock of the situation.
"Our primary focus is on rescuing the affected individuals. The government will ensure that all injured persons receive proper medical treatment. A compensation of Rs 5 lakh will be provided to the families of the deceased. I have instructed the relevant authorities to conduct audits of all similar hoardings in Mumbai," said the Chief Minister.
(With agency inputs)
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