Bhavesh Bhinde, the owner of M/s Ego Media Private Limited and the illegal hoarding that collapsed in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area on Monday, is currently untraceable, according to the Mumbai Police. The tragic incident has claimed 14 lives so far and left 74 others injured.
A case has been registered against Bhinde and others at the Pant Nagar police station under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 338 and 337 (causing grievous hurt and endangering life), and 34 (common intention).
Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar has assured that stringent legal action will be taken against those responsible for the mishap. The police conducted a search at Bhinde’s residence in Mulund on Monday night, but his phone was found to be switched off.
The 100-foot-tall illegal billboard collapsed at a petrol pump in Ghatkopar during the dust storms and unseasonal rains that struck Mumbai on Monday. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives and said the government will bear the expenses for the treatment of the injured.
NDRF has deployed two teams to assist the Mumbai Fire Brigade and other agencies in the ongoing search and rescue operation. As of Tuesday morning, 74 people have been rescued alive, while 14 have been declared dead.
BMC has stated that the billboard was illegal and had been installed without the necessary permissions. CM Shinde has ordered a structural audit of all hoardings in the city, and any found to be illegal and dangerous will be removed immediately.
