Mumbai was caught off guard by a strong dust storm this evening, crippling transport, uprooting trees and structures, and leading to power outage in many districts of the financial capital. The sky turned dark when the dust storm hit the city, with people posting visuals on social media.
Seven people were injured after a metal billboard crashed on them amid the strong dust storm in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar at 4.30 pm. Some people are feared trapped, reports said. The billboard was opposite a petrol station. Visuals show the structure came crashing down right in the middle of the petrol station.
The police said rescuers are at the site, and are looking for survivors trapped under the debris.
The dust storm disrupted life across Mumbai. Local trains, a section of the metro network, and airport services were temporarily stopped amid a darkening sky.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Mumbai issued a “nowcast warning” forecasting a thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and moderate to intense rain for Thane, Palghar, and Mumbai.
A massive billboard crashed on a petrol station amid a dust storm in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar today. Seven people were injured.
? https://t.co/L0p5t5wMRC pic.twitter.com/UrhnRnUX4S
— NDTV (@ndtv) May 13, 2024
The metro did not run between Aarey and Andheri East after a billboard landed on the overheard wire. Suburban trains were affected after an overhead equipment pole between Thane and Mulund got bent due to the strong winds.
The suburban services on the main line have been stopped, the chief spokesperson of Central Railway said.
The unseasonal rain brought some respite from the scorching heat, but power outage in Thane’s Kalwa and some other areas led to more trouble for residents.
The dust strom also uprooted trees in some areas across the city. The satellite towns of Thane, Ambernath, Badlapur, Kalyan and Ulhasnagar received moderate rain.
