In Mumbai's heavy downpour, a billboard collapsed, leaving four people dead and several others possibly trapped.
A massive billboard fell during a rainstorm in Mumbai, India's financial capital, on Monday, resulting in at least four deaths, 61 injuries, and over 40 people feared trapped, according to local officials. The rainstorm, accompanied by strong winds, caused the billboard located next to a busy road in the eastern suburb of Ghatkopar to collapse on some houses and a petrol pump.
Rescue operations are underway for the individuals still trapped under the billboard. This operation includes assistance from fire services, police, disaster response officials, and other authorities. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the civic body that oversees Mumbai, has confirmed these efforts.
News channels and social media posts showed the billboard swaying in the wind before it crashed to the ground. The weather department in Mumbai had predicted moderate rainfall and gusty winds of 40-50 kilometers per hour (25-30 miles per hour) during the storm.
The rainstorm caused temporary flight disruptions at Mumbai's airport, with the ANI news agency reporting 15 flight diversions and operations suspended for an hour.
Similar incidents occur frequently in Mumbai and other Indian cities during the monsoon season, which typically lasts from June to September each year and involves heavy flooding and rain-related accidents.
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Despite the safety measures taken, billboard collapses are not uncommon in monsoon-prone cities like Mumbai, which is part of Asia, contributing to fatalities and damage worldwide.
The aftermath of the Mumbai billboard incident has drawn attention to the need for stricter regulations and safer infrastructure in Asia, a region susceptible to extreme weather events affecting the whole world.
Source: edition.cnn.com
