BMC Vs Indian Railways: Mumbai Billboard Collapse Sparks Blame Game

The dust storms that occurred in Mumbai on Monday led to citywide chaos and a fatal 100-feet tall billboard collapse in Ghatkopar, resulting in the deaths of 14 people and leaving at least 44 injured. This has triggered a dispute between the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corp. and the Indian Railways over land ownership.

Medical treatment is currently being provided to 44 injured individuals, with 31 already discharged after receiving treatment. However, 14 people have died in this accident, the BMC said in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

"Rescue operations are ongoing at the site, with coordination among various agencies. Disaster Management Department of the civic body is overseeing coordination with all concerned agencies," the civic body further informed in their latest post on X.

The civic body has claimed that the land where the incident occurred is not under its jurisdiction, but belongs to the Railway Police. It said it intends to lodge a complaint against the Railways and the advertising company involved in the incident under the Disaster Management Act, according to a post on X by news agency ANI.

Following this, the Central Railway promptly disclaimed any ownership of the land, stating that the billboard was not situated on railway property and was unrelated to the Indian Railways. “This hoarding is not on Railway land and it is not in anyway related to Indian Railways,” they replied to the post.

Earlier today, Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar informed news agency PTI that stringent action will be taken against those responsible for the hoarding collapse incident in the city. Phansalkar visited the spot late Monday evening where he spoke to reporters.

The Mumbai Police have registered a case against Bhavesh Bhinde, the owner of M/s Ego Media Pvt. and others for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code at Pant Nagar police station.