Months after a hoarding collapsed in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar that killed over a dozen people and injured more than 70, another hoarding fell in Thane’s Kalyan area near Mumbai on Friday, resulting in minor injuries to two individuals.
The hoarding collapsed during heavy rainfall in Thane district, damaging three parked vehicles below, according to media reports.
A rescue team was dispatched to the scene after the incident took place, and officials confirmed that no one was trapped beneath the hoarding. The exact size of the hoarding is currently unknown.
Later in the day, an FIR was filed against the contractor of the hoarding, Guru Enterprises, citing negligence, reports stated.
This comes nearly three months after an incident of hoarding collapse in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar that claimed multiple lives, leading to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) introducing comprehensive guidelines for the certification and inspection of hoardings. This marks the first update to these policies in Mumbai since they were initially drafted in 2008.
The new rules emphasise the structural aspects of hoardings, mandating the use of only perforated sheets for new signages as a safety measure during cyclones. The guidelines specify that the maximum allowable lifespan for a hoarding is 50 years from the initial approval date. For existing hoardings, a structural audit report must be submitted to the BMC every two years.
