NEW DELHI, May 14 (NNN-PTI) – At least four people were killed and 60 others injured, after a huge iron billboard collapsed, in India’s financial capital of Mumbai, amid gusty winds and rains that hit the city last night, local media reports said.
The incident took place in Ghatkopar area of the city.
Reports said, many people are still feared under the 100-foot tall billboard that collapsed on a petrol pump at the Cheddanagar Junction, trapping vehicles and people.
Authorities rushed a team of India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to the spot, to carry out rescue operations.
Officials said, rescuers have brought in cranes and gas cutters to cut the iron scaffolding and bring out the holed-up people.
Officials said, so far 47 people have been rescued and the injured are being treated at Rajawadi Hospital.
In a separate incident, a scaffolding collapsed in Wadala area, leaving several people injured.
Several incidents of uprooting of trees and billboards resulting in injuries to people, have been reported from across the city. These incidents, coupled with waterlogging due to rains have resulted in disruption of traffic.
Officials said, landing and takeoff operations at the Mumbai airport were temporarily suspended in the wake of the dust storm. The airport authority said in an update that, the operations resumed at 5:03 p.m. local time and it witnessed 15 flight diversions during the storm.
Train services were also affected due to heavy rains accompanied by strong wind. Metro services were suspended between Aarey and Andheri East metro stations, after a billboard landed on the overhead wire due to strong winds.– NNN-PTI