A large outdoor advertising hoarding fell on a metal sheet roof (patra shade) in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area on Monday, May 13, 2024, after a sudden dust storm swept through the city. The incident occurred around 4:30 PM near the Police Ground Petrol Pump on the Eastern Express Highway, according to the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB).
At least 35 people were injured in the collapse. Search and rescue operations are currently underway by the MFB, police, and emergency medical services. Seven injured individuals have been transported to Rajawadi Hospital for treatment. The extent of their injuries remains unknown.
Visuals of Outdoor Hoarding Fall in Ghatkopar's Pantnagar
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Strong dust storm slammed into Mumbai on Monday evening, disrupting transportation, uprooting trees and structures, and causing power outages in several districts of the financial capital. The sky darkened as the storm hit around 4:30 p.m., with strong winds and reduced visibility.
Local trains, a section of the metro network, and flights at the Mumbai airport were temporarily halted due to the storm. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued an earlier warning for thunderstorms with lightning and moderate to heavy rain in Thane, Palghar, and Mumbai.
Strong winds brought down a billboard that landed on overhead wires, disrupting metro service between Aarey and Andheri East stations. Central Railway officials reported that suburban train services were also affected due to a bent overhead equipment pole between Thane and Mulund.
The unseasonal rain provided some relief from the scorching heat, but power outages in Thane's Kalwa area and other districts caused further inconvenience for residents. The dust storm also uprooted trees in parts of the city. Moderate rain fell in the satellite towns of Thane, Ambernath, Badlapur, Kalyan, and Ulhasnagar.