Death toll rises to 15 in Mumbai tragedy; owner of illegal hoarding on the run

A day after a massive 250-tonne iron hoarding fell at a petrol pump in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area during dust storms and unseasonal rains, the death toll in the incident has risen to 14, civic officials on Tuesday said. The billboard was illegal and no permission was taken to install it, the officials added.

A day after a massive 250-tonne iron hoarding fell at a petrol pump in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area during dust storms and unseasonal rains, the death toll in the incident has risen to 15, civic officials on Tuesday said. The billboard was illegal and no permission was taken to install it, the officials added.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) inspector Gaurav Chauhan said more bodies are likely to be recovered from the spot. “Since the 120 x 120 square feet iron hoarding has fallen on a petrol pump, we cannot use gasoline-powered cutter equipment and oxy-fuel cutter which can result in a blast or fire. We are trying to lift the hoarding and carefully cut through it to be able to pull out more people. We do not know how long it will take,” he added.

At least 12 fire engines and other vehicles were involved in the search and rescue operation since the incident on Monday.

Two NDRF teams, comprising 100 personnel, also joined the operation on Monday evening. Two heavy duty cranes and two hydra cranes were being used in the operation along with two earth-excavating machines and 25 ambulances, the civic officials said.

At least 75 people were injured in the incident and admitted to six hospitals in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane. Thirty-two of them have been discharged so far, officials said.

The condition of one of the injured persons admitted to the Rajawadi Hospital was critical, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said.

Meanwhile, the BMC on Tuesday said it would take action against all hoardings erected without its permission in the city.