Ghatkopar hoarding collapse: Auto driver succumbs to injuries sustained in hoarding collapse

Crushed autorickshaw

In the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse tragedy, a 58-year-old auto driver succumbed to his injuries at Kem Hospital while receiving treatment. Police said that the hoarding fell onto his auto, causing multiple fractures to the chest. The incident, which has claimed the lives of 17 individuals thus far, includes Raju Sonawane, a resident of Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar in Ghatkopar East. Sonawane, who was refilling his auto rickshaw with CNG at the time, was tragically struck by the falling hoarding.

Speaking to mid-day, Raju Sonawane's son, Sumit Sonawane, said, "On May 13, my father called me in the afternoon and told me he would come home at 5 pm and bring some food for me. I waited for him, but he didn't return. Around 4 pm, heavy rain with strong winds and a storm started in the area. We received information that a hoarding had fallen at the petrol pump."

Raju the deceased. Pics/Rajesh Gupta

"A few minutes later, we received a call from my father's friend, who was also at the petrol pump in the CNG queue. He informed us that my father was also in the queue. We rushed to the spot and found a large hoarding had fallen on the petrol pump, crushing many vehicles and people. After my father was rescued by the firefighters, we rushed him to KEM Hospital. In the report, we found that he had sustained multiple fractures in his chest. Due to these injuries, he passed away in the hospital," Sumit said.

Sumit added, "My father was the breadwinner of the family, and this hoarding tragedy took him away from us. Now, nobody in our household is earning. We are helpless. The government announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh, but we haven't received it yet. We request that the government provide us with a job in the government sector to support our family. Is my father's life worth only Rs 5 lakh? We seek justice for my father, and the accused should receive the strictest punishment for their actions."

Raju is survived by his two sons, Sumit, 18, and Rishikesh, 19, and his wife Maya, 50.