Latest News

Fourteen killed and dozens injured after Mumbai billboard collapse

Published

2 years ago

2024/05/14

Priyan

The vast advert fell on top of a petrol station and some houses in Ghatkopar, a suburb of Mumbai (BBC)

A least 14 people have been killed and dozens more injured after a giant billboard collapsed during a sudden storm in the Indian city of Mumbai.

The billboard, measuring 70m by 50m according to the police, fell onto houses and a petrol station in the city on Monday.

Emergency services say a few people are still trapped under it and a rescue operation is under way.

The government of Maharashtra state, where Mumbai is located, has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Footage on local news channels shows the huge billboard swaying in the wind before giving way and crashing into the buildings near a busy road in the city’s eastern suburb of Ghatkopar. Several vehicles were crushed in the accident.

In photos from the scene, emergency teams can be seen working through the wreckage. Dramatic video footage also shows rescue workers pulling out a victim from under the fallen billboard and using power tools to cut the metal. “We have rescued around 80 people safely,” an official told news agency ANI. “There is one red car which has been severely damaged, we suspect there are some people trapped inside.”

Reuters Rescue workers are seen moving through wreckage after a huge billboard blew down in sudden storm in Mumbai, India.

In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, Mumbai’s civic authorities said that “speedy winds” had caused the collapse and several agencies, including the police, fire and national disaster response teams, were involved in the rescue operation.

Authorities also say that the billboard was several times the permitted size and the agency that put it up did not have permission. A notice was sent to the company, asking them to dismantle the structure and remove all similar hoardings from the city with immediate effect.

Devendra Fadnavis, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, said the state government would provide financial assistance of 500,000 rupees ($5,987; £4,767) to the families of those killed and injured in the incident.

Monday’s dust storm brought parts of the city to a standstill, ripping up trees, causing travel chaos and power cuts.

Several flights were temporarily suspended or diverted at the city’s international airport, local media reported.

Mumbai is one of several cities in India prone to severe flooding and rain-related incidents during the monsoon season – which is usually between June and September.

(BBC)

All News Advertisement

Related Topics:billboard Maharashtra Mumbai

Up Next

Gill and Sai Sudharsan break IPL records and hurt Chennai Super King’s playoffs chances

Don't Miss

Heat Index at ‘Caution’ level in Northern and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts

Click to comment

Latest News

Nepal election 2026: Counting continues with rapper Balendra Shah’s party close to super-majority

Published

6 mins ago

2026/03/10

Priyan

[pic BBC]

Counting is continuing in Nepal as the party of rapper and ex-Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah is potentially just one seat away from winning a super-majority in parliament.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party‘s win would mark the first time in decades that a single party has won a majority in Nepal, which has a two-system format that makes it difficult for any one party to win outright

If the RSP secures a two-thirds majority, it would also be the first time in decades that a single party has achieved this

Latest News

Madagascar military leader dissolves government in surprise move

Published

33 mins ago

2026/03/10

Priyan

Col Michael Randrianirina seized power last October in the wake of youth-led protests [BBC]

Madagascar’s military ruler Col Michael Randrianirina has dissolved the government unexpectedly, dismissing the prime minister and the entire cabinet, according to a statement from his spokesperson.

“The government has ceased its functions” it said, adding that Randrianirina will appoint a new prime minister “in line with the provisions stipulated by the constitution”.

No reason was given for the move.

Randrianirina seized power last October from Andry Rajoelina, following weeks of youth-led protests on the Indian Ocean island. Rajoelina had been elected president for a third term in a disputed poll in 2023.

The demonstrations were over persistent power and water shortages, culminating in the army siding with the demonstrators.

Randrianirina has pledged to call new elections within two years.

Last December, the regional bloc, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), directed Madagascar’s military authorities to submit a roadmap for restoring democracy including plans for fresh elections by the end of February.

But in a surprise on Monday, Randrianirina sacked his entire government and assigned permanent secretaries to run ministries’ day-to-day operations until a new cabinet is formed.

Randrianirina has not explained the motivation for the mass sackings, but leaders of the Gen Z movement, whose grassroots mobilisation helped bring the military leader to power, have called for more inclusiveness in the transition process and greater representation in decision-making structures.

Activist groups, calling themselves Gen Z and Gen Y movements, had recently issued a 72-hour ultimatum for Randrianirina’s resignation, citing frustration with his performance, local media reported.

Businessman Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo had been appointed prime minister in October in an effort to bridge the divide between military leadership and civilian government.

The the Gen Z movement leaders rejected his appointment at the time, saying it was made in a “non-transparent” manner and “without consultation”.

The group demanded to know how Rajaonarivelo was selected given what it said were his connection to the previous government.

They then said that the decision “runs contrary to the desired structural change” the movement was seeking.

Monday’s dissolution of the government could mark a significant shift in the country’s political landscape with the military leader seeking to establish a new administration.

[BBC]

Latest News

ICC Board meetings in Doha called off due to West Asia conflict

Published

1 hour ago

2026/03/10

Priyan

Some ICC meetings will take place virtually over the next few weeks [Cricinfo]

The ICC Board and committee meetings scheduled for later this month in Doha have been called off due to the ongoing military conflict in West Asia. ESPNcricinfo understands that specific meetings, particularly those pertaining to the finance committee will take place virtually over the next few weeks. The possibility of in-person meetings in April remains open but much will depend on whether airspace has sufficiently re-opened for the board and committee members to fly safely.

The meetings were originally scheduled for March 25 to 27 and were due to include ICC Board Directors, Chief Executives, Committee members and ICC senior leadership. Three of the key issues up for discussion were global broadcasting rights ,with the deal between the ICC and *JioStar set to end in 2027, initial discussions over the next FTP and Olympic qualification for LA 2028. The second of those have already begun informally with several members approaching others as they make plans for cricket’s next four-year calendar.

This was the first time the ICC was due to meet in Qatar, which reports a cricketing participation growth rate of 447%. With limited flights to and from the country, hosting the meetings was deemed impossible at this time.

The crisis in West Asia has had an impact on scheduling too. The white-ball series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, scheduled to be held in the UAE from March 13 to 25, is likely to be postponed indefinitely.

[Cricinfo]