Thane businessman turns rescuer at Ghatkopar hoarding collapse site

When Amit Gupchandani made a pitstop to refuel his car at the BPCL petrol pump in Ghatkopar on Monday afternoon he had no idea that within minutes his life would change and he would turn saviour to strangers reported news agency PTIGhatkopar hoarding collapse Amit Gupchandani was among the many unsuspecting people at the sceneGupachandani was among the many unsuspecting people at the scene where a 100foottall illegal billboard fell on the petrol pump in Ghatkopar during dust storms and unseasonal rains that lashed the city reported PTITalking to PTI Thanebased businessman Gupchandani who is in his early 40s said At the time of the incident I was at the petrol pump to refuel my car and out of nowhere strong winds started gusting and the hoarding fell on the petrol pump People started running and my friend and I luckily escaped unhurtGhatkopar hoarding collapse Several people were trappedSeveral people were trapped under the hoarding and Gupchandani and his friend kept pulling them out and putting some victims in any available vehicleSpeaking to media persons Mumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner Bhushan Gagrani had earlier said the hoarding was illegal as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC had not given permission for erecting it reported PTIThe National Disaster Response Force NDRF team reached the scene and machinery including cranes was being used to lift the hoarding and traffic police and local police were also at the sceneA traffic constable on the condition of anonymity said Around 30 autorickshaws had queued up at the petrol pump to fill CNG and buses and highend cars were still trapped under the hoarding reported PTIThe Pant Nagar police are in the process of registering an FIR against the owner of the hoarding company an official said reported PTIGhatkopar hoarding collapse Death toll rises to 14The death toll in the hoarding collapse incident in Mumbais Ghatkopar area has risen to 14 while 74 people are injured civic officials said on Tuesday morningThe 100foottall illegal billboard fell at a petrol pump in Ghatkopar during dust storms and unseasonal rains that lashed Mumbai on MondayAccording to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC officials search and rescue operations were going on at the Chheda Nagarbased petrol pump on Tuesday morningOf the injured 31 people have been discharged from Rajawadi Hospital a BMC official saidThe search and rescue operation is underway the official said NDRF has deployed two teams for the operation being carried out with Mumbai Fire Brigade and other agenciesWith inputs from PTI