Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani expressed sorrow over the hoarding collapse tragedy in Ghatkopar, stating that it was a tragic event and that the rescue effort had been successfully finished.
“This was a tragic incident in which 16 people died. The rescue operation has been completed. Here is an active petrol pump; that’s why our rescue operation was delayed,” Gagrani said.
The BMC Commissioner stated that Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde has ordered all hoardings to be checked.
“All the hoardings need a structural stability certificate. They need to follow the specifications of size, foundation and the wind velocity that passes through to provide the necessary stability. Three more hoardings are being removed,” he said.
On Wednesday, the death toll in the mishap rose to 16 after two more bodies were recovered from a car stuck under the collapsed hoarding.
According to NDRF, 74 people were rescued from the spot. NDRF personnel have been conducting rescue operations for those trapped since Monday evening, when the billboard collapsed due to heavy rains and strong winds.
Mumbai police have registered a case under IPC 304, 338, 337, and 34 against owner Bhavesh Bhide and others at Pantnagar police station.
Maharashtra CM Shinde announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased. Shinde also said that the government will bear all expenses for the treatment of those injured.
President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar have condoled the deaths of eight people and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. A total of 44 people were admitted to the hospital and 31 were discharged after treatment on Tuesday.
The State Disaster Management Authority stated that the NDRF, ambulance, fire team, and ambulance are carrying out rescue operations.