Close X
Saturday, January 4, 2025
ADVT 
India

Mumbai dust-storm tragedy: 8 killed, 63 hurt as hoarding, vertical steel parking lot crash

Darpan News Desk IANS, 13 May, 2024 11:10 AM
  • Mumbai dust-storm tragedy: 8 killed, 63 hurt as hoarding, vertical steel parking lot crash

Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) Eight persons were killed and 63 others injured in two separate incidents -- a gigantic hoarding in Ghatkopar and a vertical steel parking lot in Wadala -- crashing in Mumbai, in the aftermath of a massive dust-storm that shrouded the city for over two hours, following by unseasonal rains, the BMC Disaster Control said here on Monday.

A monstrous hoarding for advertisements, erected by a private party, crashed in the gusty winds on several houses and a petrol pump in Pant Nagar, Ghatkopar east suburb around 4.15 p.m.

At least 63 people were injured and another 70 are still feared trapped under the hoarding when many vehicles had queued up to refill petrol-diesel.

In Wadala, a multi-storied, vertical steel parking lot near the Shreeji Towers building crashed on a main road around 4.15 p.m., in the squally dust-storm.

The tumbling parking lot crushed around a dozen vehicles and one person sitting in a car has been trapped, and 2 others were injured, said the officials.

The Mumbai Fire Brigade rushed over a dozen fire engines, and the NDRF plus the MMRDA rushed its expert teams which managed to rescue around 65 persons and continue a huge search and rescue operation for the others still trapped in the Ghatkopar hoarding crash.

A heavy duty crane was deployed to lift the hoarding, break it into pieces to enable the rescuers to reach the victims trapped.

Taking serious cognisance, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde rushed to the tragedy spot, enquired about the rescue operations, and ordered the BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani and Mumbai Police to conduct a probe into the tragedy.

"I have also ordered the BMC authorities to carry out a special audit of all the hoardings in Mumbai and remove all the illegal ones from the city," Shinde told mediapersons, while announcing an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of the deceased.

Bharatiya Janata Party ex-MP Kirit Somaiya told mediapersons from the site that the hoarding was allegedly illegal and the BMC had reportedly issued a notice to remove it on Sunday.

He demanded a thorough inquiry into how the illegal hoarding was allowed to be erected without following safety norms and called for arresting and slapping criminal charges against the owners.

Besides the two major tragedies, there were reports of several tree crashes, vehicular accidents and other minor incidents due to the sudden inclement weather conditions in which visibility levels plummeted.

After the dust storm subsided, many parts of Mumbai were lashed by rains, bringing some respite from the heat and humidity.

The BMC Disaster Control said that in two hours between 4-6 p.m., south Mumbai recorded an average of 18 mm rains, eastern suburbs notched 47 mm and the western suburbs recorded 35 mm rainfall.

The BMC has issued a warning of a thunderstorm likely to hit parts of Mumbai with strong winds of 50-60 kmph, later on Monday, and advised citizens to exercise precautions while stepping out.

The IMD Pune head K.S. Hosalikar said that a moderate to intense thunderstorm accompanied by strong winds, is likely to lash Thane, Raigad, Palghar, Ahmednagar, Pune and Satara, besides parts of Mumbai in the next few hours.

MORE India ARTICLES

Mumbai NCB busts India-Australia drug ring, seizes large cache of narcotics

Mumbai NCB busts India-Australia drug ring, seizes large cache of narcotics
The Narcotics Control Bureau's Mumbai Zonal Unit has busted an India-Australia drug syndicate and effected seizures of a large quantity of narcotics valued at over Rs 3 crore, besides nabbing 3 persons, officials said here on Thursday. In a strategic investigation based on previous probes, the NCB-MZU has laid bare the international network of operatives involved in smuggling of pharmaceutical drugs from India to Australia.

Mumbai NCB busts India-Australia drug ring, seizes large cache of narcotics

Air quality dips to 'severe' levels at several sites in Delhi

Air quality dips to 'severe' levels at several sites in Delhi
The air quality in several areas of the national capital continues to remain under the "severe" category as per data from several AQI stations across the city on Thursday. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department said that the maximum temperature was recorded at 23 degrees Celsius, a notch above the seasonal average and predicted that the minimum temperature is likely to dip to five degree Celsius during the night.  

Air quality dips to 'severe' levels at several sites in Delhi

Delhi govt to introduce 'Anywhere Registration' policy for properties

Delhi govt to introduce 'Anywhere Registration' policy for properties
The Revenue Department of Delhi government has decided to introduce the 'Anywhere Registration' policy for properties in the national capital, an official said on Thursday. According to the policy, if people want to register their properties, they can go to any Sub-Registrar Office in Delhi. Now, individuals will not be restricted to a specific Sub-Registrar Office for property registration.

Delhi govt to introduce 'Anywhere Registration' policy for properties

Gangster tries to flee from police custody, shot dead in Amritsar

Gangster tries to flee from police custody, shot dead in Amritsar
A gangster was shot dead on Wednesday by the Punjab Police in Amritsar as he tried to flee after opening fire at the police after taking an advantage of dense fog. An encounter between Amritpal Singh Amri and the police occurred in the Jandiala Guru area.  

Gangster tries to flee from police custody, shot dead in Amritsar

Delhi Metro to give Rs 15L compensation to kin of woman dragged along platform

Delhi Metro to give Rs 15L compensation to kin of woman dragged along platform
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will provide a compensation of Rs 15 lakh to the next of kin of a woman passenger, who died following a mishap at the Inderlok Metro station last week, an official said. The 35-year-old woman succumbed to injuries at a hospital on December 16, which she sustained when her saree and jacket got stuck in the door of a Delhi Metro train following which she got dragged by the train for several metres.

Delhi Metro to give Rs 15L compensation to kin of woman dragged along platform

A few incidents cannot derail India-US ties, says PM Modi on Pannun case

A few incidents cannot derail India-US ties, says PM Modi on Pannun case
In his first public response to allegations of an Indian national conspiring to murder a Khalistani separatist in New York, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the issue will be examined, but a few incidents cannot derail ties between India and the US. He underlined that security and counter-terrorism cooperation has been a key component of the ties between India and the US.  

A few incidents cannot derail India-US ties, says PM Modi on Pannun case