The death toll in Ghatkopar hoarding collapse in Mumbai rose to 16 on Thursday after the rescuers pulled out two more bodies from a car stuck underneath the structure, said an official of the National Disaster Response Force. The giant 120 X 120 feet hoarding had collapsed on Monday evening during gusty winds.
"The bodies of a male and a female were retrieved from the car struck below the hoarding in Chheda Nagar area shortly after midnight, the official said, according to a PTI report.
The search and rescue operation is still underway, the official said.
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On Wednesday, the death was reported to be 14 while 76 were injured due to the billboard crash during heavy rains and thunderstorms in Mumbai. Among the injured, 44 persons remain hospitalised with one in critical condition while 31 have been discharged, as per the local authorities.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the next kin of the victims and vowed action against those responsible for the accident.
"It is a painful and sad incident, I myself visited the spot yesterday. The government will bear all the expenses of the people injured in this incident," he said.
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"Strict action will be taken against the owner of the hoarding. A case of culpable homicide has been registered," said the Chief Minister.
Given the incident, a prophecy by made by author Amitav Ghosh eight years ago resurfaced wherein he forwewarned of the potential perils posed by hoardings in the city envisaging them "deadly projectiles" in the event of a cycle.
President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar had also expressed their grief over the loss of lives. The President wished a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries in the accident.