Mumbai hoarding collapse: India's largest as per Limca Book of Records, the billboard wasn't cleared by BMC

The massive hoarding that collapsed inIndia'sMumbai and killed at least14peoplewas once recognisedas India's largest billboard in Limca Book of Records, but did not have proper clearances, it has emerged.

The billboardwas put up without authorisation from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), reports said. An FIR, or first information report, isbeing launchedagainst Ego Media, the ad agency responsible for the hoarding.

The agency had erected the hoarding on a plot leased to the Police Welfare Corporationby the Police Housing Division of the Maharashtra government.

In the premises,four hoardingswere set upby Ego Media, one of which collapsed on Monday evening (May 12).

Even though Ego Media had taken permission for all four hoardings, which included the one that collapsed from the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Railways), the BMC had not given any authorisation or No Objection Certificate (NOC) before their installation.

The BMC allows amaximum hoarding size of 40 x 40 square feet. The billboard whichcollapsedmeasured 120 x 120 square feet.

Now, the BMC has issued notices to the RailwayPolice'sACP and the Railway Commissioner, seeking cancellation of all permissions granted by the Railways.

BMC'sAdditional Commissioner Ashwini Joshigave the order to remove the rest of thehoardings as per the Disaster Management Act.

The GovernmentRailwayPolice has accepted the order.

How a billboard collapse killed 14 people

The huge billboard,locatedopposite a fuel station inMumbai'sGhatkopar area, crasheddownwith massive force amid a wild storm in the west Indian megapolis.

CCTV captured the structure crashing through the roofs of several cars before falling on the ground.

Two teams were dispatched by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to assistthe Mumbai Fire Brigade and other agencies in the rescue operation.

"A total of 88 peoplewere rescued, of whom 14 were declared dead by doctorsand31were discharged," said NDRF assistant commandant Nikhil Mudholkar.

"The problem is that weare unable touse our gasoline-based cutting equipment because there is a petrol pump here," he added.

Watch:Massive billboard falls during dust storm

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reached the accident site. He said the government willcarry outa structural audit of all hoardingspresentin the city.

"The hoardings, if found illegal and dangerous, would be removed immediately,"Shindesaid.

"It isa very unfortunateincident. The government will probe it, and the people responsible will face action. I have also asked the BMC commissioner to conduct a structural audit of all the hoardings in the city.Those found illegal and dangerous will be removed,"the chief minister added.

He announced an aid ofRs5 lakhs (approx $5987) for the families of those killed in the incident.

(With inputs from agencies)