Mumbai duststorm: Nine dead, 70 injured as 100-ft tall billboard falls at petrol pump; high-level inquiry ordered

After a major duststorm hit the financial capital of India, a giant billboard that fell in Ghatkopar killed nine while the number of those injured has increased to 70.

"We suspect 20-30 more people trapped under that hoarding which collapsed in Ghatkopar. A total of eight people died in the incident. Rescue is underway..." said Bhushan Gagrani, BMC Commissioner who was present at the site.

The NDRF team present at the spot for the rescue operation said that 67 underneath the billboard have been rescued. The official added that those injured in the billboard collapse incident have been rushed to the civic body-run Rajawadi Hospital.


Read More: Dust, thunderstorm hit Mumbai, local train & flight services affected; IMD issues warning

Directions of Maharashtra govt:
After the incident, Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister announced that a high-level inquiry has been ordered to probe the matter. "Departments like Mumbai Police, Municipal Corporation, Disaster Management are coordinating and efforts are being made to evacuate the trapped people on a war footing. The injured are being treated at Rajawadi Hospital and will be given all possible assistance," said the DY CM.

Additionally, Chief Minister Shinde, present at the site, announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of the deceased from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

Commenting on the billboard, Central Railway CPRO DR Swapnil Nila said, "The land on which the hoarding was erected belongs to the GRP. It doesn't belong to the central railway."


IMD issued a warning at 16:00 Hrs, stating that a thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and moderate to intense spells of rain, with gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph, was highly probable in isolated areas of Thane and Satara in the next 3-4 hours.

Flight operations:
Flight operations at Mumbai airport remained suspended for more than one hour on Monday due to inclement weather and dust storms, the private airport operator said. This resulted in as many as 15 flights getting diverted to different airports, it added.

Read More: Mumbai duststorm: Airlines issue flight advisory. Check update here

"Due to the inclement weather and dust storms in the city, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) temporarily suspended flight operations for around 66 minutes due to low visibility and gusty winds," the airport operator said in a statement. Stating that the operations resumed at 17:03 hours," the statement of the airport said.

CSMIA had only last week completed its pre-monsoon runway maintenance successfully to ensure safe and smooth aircraft operations.

Train services:
Due to sudden rains with gutsy winds, Main line, and Harbour line suburban services are running behind schedule, said Central Railway in its statement.


(with agency inputs)