How mumbai Wasn't Prepared Despite 2 Billboard Crashes..?
Could the 14 lives, lost after a billboard came crashing on them in Ghatkopar after a dust storm on Monday, have been saved? Yes, if the authorities had conducted the necessary checks in the wake of two similar incidents in neighbouring pune — one last month, in which, fortunately, there were no casualties, or last year, which saw five deaths. They were even reminded to do so by a Ghatkopar resident last year, who mentioned the 2017 pune incident in which five lives were lost.
The 120×120-foot illegal billboard fell at a petrol pump at Chheda nagar junction along the Eastern Eastern Expressway after a dust storm and unseasonal rain, with winds at a speed of over 96 kmph, lashed Mumbai. While 14 people died, 74 suffered injuries in the incident. Moreover, an under-construction metal parking tower collapsed on a road in Wadala on Monday, leaving three injured.
As of now, Bhavesh Bhinde, director at Ego media media Pvt Ltd advertising agency, who erected the hoarding at Ghatkopar, has been booked under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 337 (causing hurt to another person by acting rashly or negligently) of the indian Penal Code. His firm has been asked to pull down their eight hoardings in the area.
THE pune INCIDENTS
On april 17, 2024, following heavy rain and wind a hoarding collapse on a vehicle at the Ubale nagar bus stop in Wagholi, Pune. No casualties were reported.
On april 18, 2023, five people were killed and two injured as an iron hoarding collapsed on them at a service road in Pimpri-Chinchwad along the Mumbai-Pune highway. The incident took place in Ravet Kivale area.
On october 5, 2017, four people were killed when a 40-ft metal hoarding fell on people waiting at a traffic signal near Juna Bazar in Pune.