Four dead, several feared trapped as billboard falls over during Mumbai rainstorm

The rainstorm was accompanied by gusty winds, causing the billboard, located next to a busy road in the eastern suburb of Ghatkopar, toppling onto some houses and a petrol pump.

The rescue operation continues for the people trapped under the billboard.

Fire services, police, disaster response officials and other authorities are involved in rescue efforts, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the civic body that governs Mumbai, told X.

News channels and social media posts showed the towering billboard swaying in the wind for some time before giving way and crashing to the ground.

The local weather department has predicted that moderate spells of rain accompanied by gusty winds reaching 40-50 kilometers per hour are likely to occur in parts of Mumbai region on Monday.

There were temporary disruptions to flights at Mumbai airport, with 15 flight diversions and operations halted for just over an hour, news agency ANI, in which Reuters has a minority stake, reported.

Mumbai, like several Indian cities, is prone to severe flooding and rain-related incidents during the monsoon season, which usually lasts from June to September every year.