NEW DELHI, May 14 (Xinhua): At least 14 people died and nearly 75 were injured when a huge advertisement billboard fell on them amid a heavy storm accompanied by rains in India’s southwestern state of Maharashtra late Monday night, confirmed a civic agency official over phone.
The incident happened in the Ghatkopar area of the country’s financial capital of Mumbai.
Videos on social media showed the huge billboard fell, trapping many cars and other vehicles under it.
The billboard was installed next to a fuel station. The victims were taking shelter at the fuel station amid storm and rains when the mishap occurred.
Local police and the fire department workers rescued the people from underneath the billboard. They were later rushed to a local hospital. According to latest reports, the Mumbai Police registered a criminal case against the owner of the billboard which was installed illegally.
Mumbai, home to more than 18 million people, is prone to severe flooding and rain-related accidents during the monsoon season, which runs roughly from June to September.
Comment