Mumbai duststorm: 100 trapped, 35 injured after 100-ft tall billboard falls at petrol pump in Ghatkopar. Here is video

After a major duststorm hit the financial capital of India, a giant billboard that fell in Ghatkopar injured 35 people while 100 others are still trapped, said BMC officials. “35 people reported injured after a hoarding fell at the Police Ground Petrol Pump, Eastern Express Highway, Pantnagar, Ghatkopar East. Search and rescue is in process,” said BMC. The official added that those injured in the billboard collapse incident have been rushed to the civic body-run Rajawadi Hospital.

Read More: Dust, thunderstorm hit Mumbai, local train & flight services affected; IMD issues warning

A 100-foot tall billboard was uprooted and fell on a petrol pump at the Cheddanagar Junction in Ghatkopar area, injuring 35 people and trapping many more.
IMD issued a warning at 1600 Hrs, stating that a thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and moderate to intense spells of rain, with gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph, was highly probable in isolated areas of Thane and Satara in the next 3-4 hours.

Flight operations:
Flight operations at Mumbai airport remained suspended for more than one hour on Monday due to inclement weather and dust storms, the private airport operator said. This resulted in as many as 15 flights getting diverted to different airports, it added.Read More: Mumbai duststorm: Airlines issue flight advisory. Check update here

“Due to the inclement weather and dust storms in the city, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) temporarily suspended flight operations for around 66 minutes due to low visibility and gusty winds,” the airport operator said in a statement. Stating that the operations resumed at 17:03 hours,” the statement of the airport said.

CSMIA had only last week completed its pre-monsoon runway maintenance successfully to ensure safe and smooth aircraft operations.

Train services:
Due to sudden rains with gutsy winds, Main line, and Harbour line suburban services are running behind schedule, said Central Railway in its statement.

(with agency inputs)