Ghatkopar Tragedy: 14 Dead, 88 Injured, 74 Rescued

In a devastating incident in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, 14 individuals lost their lives and 88 sustained injuries when an illegal hoarding collapsed during a sudden storm. The tragedy struck on Monday evening around 4:15 pm, as the hoarding, located near a petrol pump, was toppled by strong winds, burying approximately 80 vehicles and trapping many people who had sought shelter at the pump.

Rescue operations have been underway since, with fire brigade personnel working tirelessly to extract survivors from the debris. As of Tuesday morning, 74 individuals have been successfully rescued, while 43 of the injured are receiving treatment at Rajawadi Hospital, with the rest discharged after receiving medical attention.

The owner of the illegal hoarding, Bhavesh Bhide, and Igo Media Company, responsible for its installation, face legal action, with a case registered against them at Pantnagar Police Station in Ghatkopar.

Upon learning of the incident, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the site, ordering a thorough investigation into the matter. The CM announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the dependents of the deceased and directed that the injured be treated at government expense. Additionally, he mandated a structural audit of all hoardings in Mumbai and the immediate removal of unauthorized ones to prevent similar incidents in the future.