8 Dead, 59 Injured After Huge Billboard Falls During Mumbai Dust Storm

Twenty people are feared trapped under the debris of a massive billboard that collapsed on a fuel station amid a strong dust storm in Mumbai's Ghatkopar this evening. Police said eight people were killed and 59 were injured.

The billboard was opposite the fuel station. Visuals show the structure crashing down right in the middle of the refuelling facility. The civic authorities are looking whether the billboard advertisement agency had permission to install the structure.

The metal frame of the billboard tore through the roof of several cars that were at the fuel station.

"I was there when a big hoarding of some builder fell down. All the cars, bikes and people that were there got stuck. We helped people get out and somehow manage to escape," an eyewitness, Swapnil Khupte, told news agency ANI.

The police said teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are at the site, and are looking for survivors trapped under the debris.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said rescuing people is the priority, and the government will take care of treatment of those who were injured. "Rs 5 lakh will be given to the family of those who have lost their lives. I have directed the authorities concerned to check all such hoardings in Mumbai," Mr Shinde said.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in a post on X said the state government has ordered an investigation into the incident.

A massive billboard crashed on a petrol station amid a dust storm in Mumbai's Ghatkopar today. Seven people were injured.