At least 35 people were injured on Monday when a huge iron hoarding collapsed on a petrol pump in Ghatkopar area of Mumbai amid rain and gusty wind, while 100 others are feared trapped, officials said.
The incident occurred at around 4.30 pm near Chheda Nagar Gymkhana, an official said.
Personnel of the fire brigade and police rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation, he said.
A 100-foot tall billboard was uprooted and fell on a petrol pump due to unseasonal rains, accompanied by a dust storm, at the Cheddanagar Junction, in Ghatkopar area. PTI picture.
"At least 35 persons were injured in the incident while 100 people are feared trapped under the hoarding," the official said, adding ambulances were also rushed to the spot.
An NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) team has joined the rescue operation, said Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani.
Cranes and (gas) cutters have also reached the spot for rescue operation, he said.
"The injured persons were rushed to civic-run Rajawadi Hospital," the official said.
As many as 15 flights were diverted to different airports and the runways operation resumed at 5.03 pm, the airport operator said.
"Due to the inclement weather and dust storms in the city, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) temporarily suspended flight operations for around 66 min due to low visibility and gusty winds," it said in a statement.
Till the operations resumed, the airport witnessed 15 diversions, the statement said. The airport had only last week completed its pre-monsoon runway maintenance to ensure safe and smooth aircraft operations.
While the rainfall brought relief to the residents of Mumbai and its adjoining area from the heat, the sudden change in weather brought traffic to a standstill as commuters took shelter during the storm.