Ghatkopar hoarding collapse: Former ATC GM and wife feared to be still trapped under fallen billboard

Former General Manager of Mumbai's Air Traffic Control, Manoj Chansoria, and his wife are reportedly missing and are believed to be trapped beneath the rubble of the collapsed hoarding at the petrol pump in Ghatkopar. According to the police, their last known mobile tower location was at the same petrol pump, situated across from Ramabai Nagar on the Eastern Express Highway. Additionally, Manoj Chansoria's mobile phone was discovered amidst the iron debris, while his wife's phone is still ringing and yet to be located. Manoj Chansoria who retired only a month ago was staying with his wife in a guest house in Marol. Their son is in the United States.

"The couple were not responding to the calls made by their son and some of Manoj's colleagues since May 13, after 5 pm. The colleagues immediately rushed to the guest house but the couple were not present there," said the police. "However, On May 14, again, their colleagues went back to the guest house and they received information that the couple had headed to Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, in their Red Tata Harrier car but their son was worried as his parents might have landed up in big trouble," said the police

"The same day around 7 pm, the son informed his father's colleagues to report to Marol Police about his parents' missing status. The Marol Police took prompt action and traced the location of the couple to be at the petrol pump, where the hoarding had collapsed," said the police. The Air Control Traffic's staff and the relatives of the couple gathered around the petrol pump. The police also informed the fire brigade officials and the NDRF team and shared the exact location of the couple's mobile phones with the rescuing authorities.

One of Manoj's colleagues while speaking to mid-day said, "Manoj had recently celebrated his retirement party. He was always jolly and tried to help people around him. We are hoping that they are both alive and alright. We checked many hospitals and private clinics in the nearby area and the couple is nowhere to be found."

In the meantime, after more than 48 hours, around 18 bikes and 7 cars that were trapped under the debris were removed by the rescue team. The fire brigade and NDRF teams have located three more people who are trapped in the rubble and they are in the process of rescuing them. The cops suspect that more than 12-15 people are trapped in the rubble.