At least 4 dead, several trapped as Mumbai billboard collapses

At least four people are dead, 61 injured and more than 40 feared trapped after a massive billboard fell during a rainstorm in India's financial capital of Mumbai on Monday.

The rainstorm was accompanied by gusty winds, causing the billboard, located next to a busy road in the eastern suburb of Ghatkopar to collapse on some houses and a fuel station.

Fire services, police, disaster response officials and other authorities are all involved in the rescue efforts, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the civic body that runs Mumbai, said on X.

News channels and posts on social media showed the towering billboard billowing in the wind for a while before it gave way and crashed to the ground.

The local weather department had predicted that moderate spells of rain, accompanied by gusty winds reaching 40-50 km per hour were likely to occur in parts of Mumbai district on Monday.

There were temporary flight disruptions at the Mumbai airport, with 15 flight diversions and operations suspended for a little over an hour, ANI news agency reported.

Due to speedy winds in Mumbai, a hoarding collapsed in the Chheda Nagar area of Ghatkopar, today evening.

Rescue operations are currently underway in co-ordination with various agencies including BMC's Mumbai Fire Brigade, N Ward Office, Mumbai Police, 108 Ambulance Service,…

— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) May 13, 2024

VIDEO | Rescue operations continue in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar after an iron hoarding collapsed on a petrol pump earlier today.

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/hCkVReJWEk

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 13, 2024