MUMBAI BUREAU
MUMBAI: Mumbai witnessed the first rains of the season, accompanied by a massive dust storm which turned the sky dark around 3 pm today. Rainfall brought relief to the residents of Mumbai and its adjoining area from heat but the skyline of the metropolitan was encircled by dusty winds. Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said a high-level inquiry has been ordered into the incident.
The sudden change in weather brought traffic to a standstill as commuters took shelter during the storm.  The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been called to rescue the trapped. More than 100 people are likely to be trapped due to a hoarding collapse near the petrol pump of Cheda Nagar Gymkhana Recreation Centre, sector 3, Chembur, Mumbai, the BMC officials informed. MFB reported the incident at 5:55 p.m. At present a total of 35 injured persons are reported at Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, their condition is stable.
At least thirty-five people were injured after a giant billboard collapsed in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar amid dust storms and heavy rain. Elaborating on the details of the incident, the officials said, the incident happened at around 4.30 pm near Chheda Nagar Gymkhana. And presently personnel of the fire brigade and police have launched a rescue operation.
Strong winds and rain were witnessed in the Ghatkopar, Bandra Kurla, Dharavi area of Mumbai. A 100-foot tall billboard was uprooted and fell on a petrol pump at the Cheddanagar Junction in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar, trapping vehicles and people, visuals showed. Some people are heard saying “They are dead…they are dead”. No casualties have been reported so far but a rescue operation is underway.
Dust Storm Causes Chaos In Mumbai, Massive Billboard Falls On Petrol PumpThe India Meteorological Department (IMD) Mumbai has issued a “nowcast warning” forecasting a thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and moderate to intense spells of rain for Thane, Palghar and Mumbai. The weather office, in an update, said thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and moderate to intense spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 50-60 km/hr are very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Palghar and Thane during the next 3-4 hours.
Landing and takeoff operations at the Mumbai airport, one of the busiest airports in the country, were temporarily suspended, officials said. The airport authority in an update said the operations resumed at 5:03 pm and it witnessed 15 flight diversions during the storm. The Mumbai Airport last week completed its pre-monsoon runway maintenance successfully, ensuring safe and smooth aircraft operations. Metro services were suspended between Aarey and Andheri East metro stations after a banner landed on the overheard wire due to strong winds, a spokesperson from Metro Rail said.
Suburban services on Central Railway were affected after an overhead equipment pole between Thane and Mulund stations got bent due to strong winds, an official said.
Strong winds caused trees to fall in several areas. In Mumbai’s neighboring Navi Mumbai, a tree fell on a busy road in the Aroli Sector 5 area. No one was injured but the traffic stopped and commuters parked their vehicles at a safe distance as heavy winds continued to hit the city.
“Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and light to moderate spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph is very likely to occur at isolated places in Mumbai in the next 3-4 hours,” an official of IMD said. Hoarding collapse in Ghatkopar
Metro services were suspended between Aarey and Andheri East metro stations after a banner landed on the overheard wire due to strong winds, a spokesperson from Metro Rail said.
The incident of Patra shade (roofing sheet) collapsing was reported by the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) at 4.30 p.m. at Police Ground Petrol Pump, Eastern Express Highway, Pantnagar, Ghatkopar East. Officials from BMC said, “Due to patra shade falls, some people are likely to be trapped.A search and rescue operation is in process. Agencies such as MFB, police and 101 ambulance service are mobilised…”
“47 citizens have been evacuated so far in the hoarding collapse accident in Ghatkopar area. Departments like Mumbai Police, Municipal Corporation, Disaster Management are coordinating and efforts are being made to evacuate the trapped people on a war footing. The injured are being treated at Rajawadi Hospital and will be given all possible assistance,” he posted on X.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani further speaking of the incident informed that the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) team has also joined the rescue operation and cranes and (gas) cutters have also reached the spot for the rescue efforts.

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