A towering 120×120 hoarding near a petrol pump in Mumbai’s Chheda Nagar, Ghatkopar collapsed on Monday, May 13. The incident occurred due to a fierce dust storm and heavy rainfall, trapping at least 100 individuals under the debris.
CNBC-TV18 reported that 54 people have sustained injuries in the calamity, prompting swift responses from emergency services as MFB declared it a level 3 incident.
A BMC official informed CNBC-TV18 highlighted that the hoarding was illegal and said that its placement on railway land was done without proper authorisation.
The BMC also said that it will file an FIR against the Central Railways as well as the advertising agencies responsible for the illegal hoarding, under the provisions of Disaster Management Act, CNBC-TV18 reported.
The ad agencies identified include Pacific Digital and Minimax Ads. The hoarding was erected by Ego Media, the parent company.
“The hoarding near Chedda Nagar petrol pump was NOT authorised or legal in nature. Will file an FIR against central railway and the ad agency responsible for the hoarding. Will also file FIR in case of three more hoardings by Central Railways in their premises along with the ad agency,” the BMC asserted to CNBC-TV18.
The Central Railways has refuted the allegations, claiming that the hoarding was not on its land.
The notice says that a complaint was filed earlier on April 29 regarding the same hoarding that is erected near Ghatkopar’s Ramabai Nagar Petrol Pump. The notice stated that the ad agency will be fined ₹6.13 crore which needs to be paid by May 23 along with taking down the remaining illegal hoardings in the area.
#FreeOurSkylines – Fight against illegal ad hoardings: A terrible tragedy struck on May 13 after a 100-foot-tall illegal billboard fell at a petrol pump in Ghatkopar during dust storms and unseasonal rains in Mumbai. The killer hoarding caused the deaths of over a dozen people and injured many others. The catastrophic incident outraged citizens who have been dealing with the menace of illegal ad hoardings. The people don’t want just answers but solutions, as they turn to civic authorities, advertising agencies, industry bodies, brand marketers, and media owners, to take responsibility and fight against the menace of illegal advertising hoardings. So speak up and join the #FreeOurSkylines movement. Write to us at Storyboard18@nw18.com with your concerns and views, and let’s make our cities safer together.