Monday turned out to be a day of disorder in Mumbai as the city faced unexpected stormy weather that caused widespread disruptions, including the suspension of flight operations at Mumbai airport for approximately an hour as heavy rain and a dust storm swept through the metropolis. The unruly weather conditions also resulted in the delay of local trains, leaving commuters stranded and seeking shelter from the raging elements.
Amid the chaos, a tragic incident unfolded at Cheddanagar Junction in the Ghatkopar area, where an illegal 100-foot tall hoarding toppled onto a petrol pump, leaving at least eight people deceased and 59 others injured. The incident immediately triggered a search and rescue operation, which witnessed frantic efforts by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team and others to locate and assist any individuals potentially trapped under the collapsed structure.
At Wadala, another rain-related calamity struck as an under-construction metal parking tower yielded to the ferocious winds, descending onto a road below, injuring three people, and causing significant damage to several vehicles. Emergency services rushed to both sites, facing the combined challenge of severe weather conditions and the urgency of rescue operations.
Meanwhile, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport witnessed a total of 15 flight diversions due to the low visibility and gusty winds compromising safe travel conditions. Operations on the runways were resumed only after a considerable pause, the airport operator indicated in a statement, pinpointing the harrowing 66 minutes when Mumbai’s usually bustling skies were silenced.
As the city attempted to grapple with the aftermath, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde personally visited the harrowing site of the billboard accident later that evening. It was a sobering moment that underscored the severity of the situation and the urgency of continued rescue efforts.
A BMC senior official detailed the arrival of much-needed machinery, including cranes for hoisting the remnants of the billboard and gas cutters to disentangle the mesh of metal and dismantle the debris. The update brought with it a grim estimate that as many as 100 people could have been trapped beneath the hoarding, though 62 have been rescued, a figure that included three confirmed fatalities.
Mumbai Police took to Twitter to report on the catastrophe, indicating that around 50-60 individuals were estimated to be trapped and that authorities, along with the Fire Brigade and various municipal services, were on-site conducting intense search and rescue operations.
The Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai, Bhushan Gagrani, faced the media with the revelation that the fallen hoarding was unlawful, placed without the consent of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Gagrani lamented the history of objections to the four hoardings erected on railway land but claimed that the Railways had authorized the specific hoarding in question. He stressed the need to initiate immediate action against this blatant breach, including the issuance of a notice demanding the removal of the offending structures and legal measures against those responsible.
The catastrophe brought to light earlier grievances, with the BMC recalling an incident from the preceding year where trees were deliberately poisoned to improve the billboard’s visibility. Actions to address such misconduct had been articulated but seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.
As authorities worked tirelessly to mitigate the aftermath, a private hospital and the civic-run Sion Hospital received those injured from the metal tower collapse in Wadala, with efforts underway to safely remove the collapsed structure.
The deluge also brought Mumbai’s traffic to an unprecedented halt, as residents sought refuge from the weather’s wrath. Mumbai Police, adopting a tone of resilience familiar to the city’s denizens, urged caution and safety in a tweet that humorously advised against “storming into any irresponsible plans for the day.”
The enduring spirit of Mumbai, it appears, continues to weather through both literal and metaphorical storms. As the city recovers and mourns, the dialogue turns toward accountability, enforcement, and prevention – hoping that the pain and loss inflicted by this tragedy provide the impetus for a safer and more vigilant future.
