The overnight death in the Mumbai hoarding crash climbed to 14, with four more persons succumbing to their injuries in hospital, the BMC Disaster Control said today. 

Besides, another 43 were injured, including some who were critical, while more than 30 injured victims were discharged after treatment.

After a sudden dust storm accompanied by strong winds and followed by rains wreaked havoc in the city on the noon of May 13.

A gigantic advertising hoarding erected by a private party was uprooted and collapsed onto several homes, and a petrol pump in Pant Magar around 4:15 p.m., injuring and trapping scores.

Till late night of May 13, the Mumbai Fire Brigade, MDRF, and MMRDA teams managed to rescue more than 60 people trapped under the debris of the crashed hoarding.

Besides, in another tragedy, a multi-storeyed vertical steel parking lot crashed near Shreeji Towers in Wadala crushing a dozen vehicles.

Two persons killed

At least two more persons were killed in other dust storm-related tragedies that disrupted road traffic and hit airport operations for 66 minutes.

Taking serious cognisance, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ordered the BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani and Mumbai police to conduct a thorough investigation into the tragedy.

“I have also ordered the BMC authorities to carry out a special audit of all the hoardings in Mumbai and remove all the illegal ones from the city,” Shinde told media persons while announcing an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh to the kin of all the deceased.

Who is Bhavesh Bhide?

According to reports, Bhavesh Bhide, owner of 'Ego Media Pvt Ltd' has been named responsible for the tragic incident.

The gigantic hoarding that claimed the lives of 14 was allegedly an unauthorised hoarding that fell in the Ghatkopar area.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has reportedly issued notice to Ego Media Pvt Ltd and the Mumbai police are currently in search of Bhide.

(With inputs from syndicated feed)

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