Pune: Hoarding Collapse in Pimpri Chinchwad Raises Safety Concerns
Reported by Varad Bhatkhande
Moshi, 16th May 2024: After the Mumbai hoarding tragedy, which claimed the lives of 16 people and left more than 70 injured, another incident occurred in Pimpri Chinchwad. Today at 4:00 PM, heavy rains and strong winds hit Pimpri Chinchwad, causing a hoarding to collapse. Fortunately, there were no casualties this time.
According to information provided by Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Khot of the Sky Sign and License Department of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), the hoarding collapsed within the PCMC’s jurisdiction around 4:30 PM while heavy rains were occurring in the Jay Ganesh Samrajya Chowk area of Moshi. It fell onto a tempo and several two-wheelers. There were no casualties, but the tempo and two-wheelers sustained some damage. The hoarding was authorised, and the Sky Sign and License Department was conducting structural audits and issuing licenses when this incident occurred. Currently, efforts are underway to remove the hoarding using a crane by the PCMC Fire Brigade.
मुंबईच्या दुर्घटनेनंतर पिंपरी चिंचवड महानगरपालिकेच्या हद्दीत लोखंडी होर्डिंग कोसळले; जीवित हानी नाही
PCMC Ward Officer Anna Bodhade stated that the hoarding, measuring 20×40 feet, belonged to Anand Advertising. A meeting under PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh will be convened for all hoardings within the PCMC jurisdiction. Following Commissioner Singh’s directives, Joint Commissioner Chandrakant Indwalkar and Deputy Commissioner Khot are overseeing the removal operation of the hoarding.
After the incident in Mumbai, where many people lost their lives due to the collapse of an unauthorised hoarding, PCMC claimed to be in action mode, re-verifying the licenses and conducting structural audits of all hoardings within its jurisdiction. For PCMC, this action is especially crucial because, similar to Mumbai, an incident occurred in Kiwale last April, resulting in the loss of lives of five individuals and injuries to several others.
