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Rescuers look for victims under a billboard that collapsed following heavy rain and thundershowers in Mumbai on May 13, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued a notice to an advertisement agency on May 13 after the Ghatkopar billboard collapse incident, asking it to immediately remove the remaining three hoardings near the spot, officials said.
The notice has been issued to M/s Ego Media for installing the hoarding that collapsed on the petrol pump during the gusty winds on May 13 evening. According to police, 9 persons were killed and more than 70 were injured in the incident.
Rescuers look for victims under a billboard that collapsed following heavy rain and thundershowers in Mumbai on May 13, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
AP
“The BMC has asked the ad agency to remove the remaining three hoardings immediately for not having valid permission,” an official said.
The Assistant Police Commissioner (Admin) had given permission for erecting the four hoardings on behalf of the Commissioner of Railway Police, Mumbai, including the one which collapsed on Monday, but no official permission or NOC was obtained from the BMC.
A hoarding collapses in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar killing at least nine and leaving 70 others injured, in Mumbai on May 13, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
ANI
The official said the land on which the hoarding was erected is the Collector land and it was in possession of Police Housing Welfare Corporation of the Government of Maharashtra as per the property card records.
The land was initially given to the Government Railway Police for use, it stated.
Earlier on May 2, the BMC issued a notice to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Admin) of Railway Police to instruct the advertising agency about the cancellation of all permissions and remove the hoardings, the BMC official said.
Mumbai Police had registered a case against the concerned advertising agency for allegedly poisoning trees, which were obstructing the view of the hoardings in Chheda Nagar area, he said.
A case was registered against the Mulund-based M/s Ego Media on July 13, 2023, at Pant Nagar police station for poisoning nine coconut trees and two bottle palm trees, the official said.
Locals gather after an under-construction metal parking tower collapsed on a road due to strong winds and rain, at Wadala area in Mumbai on May 13, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
Though the BMC allows holdings of a maximum size of 40×40 square feet, the illegal hoarding that collapsed measured 120 x 120 square feet in size, the official said.
He said the work order for the installation of the hoarding was initially given in December 2021 by the then Assistant Commissioner of Police on behalf of the GRP Commissioner.
Ravindra Shisave, Commissioner, GRP, said the land on which the hoardings were erected is in the possession of the Government Railway Police, but the hoardings were erected at the spot before he took charge.
Mumbai witnessed its first rain of the season, but a massive duststorm disrupted traffic both on the road and in the air, turning the sky dark around 3 p.m.. Photo: Special Arrangement
He further said that GRP has already launched a probe about the permissions given for installing the hoardings.
“Taking a serious note of the incident, an inquiry has been started to find out under whose authority the permission was given,” Mr. Shisave said.
According to sources, the three hoardings are likely to be removed on May 14 by the BMC.
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