Pune: Four persons were crushed to death under a massive hoarding that came crashing down on a busy five-road junction at Shahir Amar Shaikh Road in Pune’s Juna Bazar Chowk on Friday.
Eleven persons sustained injuries in the incident and were admitted to Sassoon Hospital. The condition of six among them is reportedly critical.
The deceased have been identified as Bhimrao Kasar (70), Javed M. Khan (49), Shyamrao Dhotre (48) and Shivaji D. Pardesi (40). Pardesi, an auto-rickshaw driver, was on his way back home with his children after having performed last rites of his wife the day before. His children, who suffered grave injuries, have been admitted to a hospital.
Officials reported that several private and public vehicles were severely damaged under the impact of the hoarding that crashed while being dismantled.
Locals said that the hoarding was declared dangerous some time ago. Reportedly illegal, it was put up on railway property and several complaints were registered with the Railway and Pune Municipal Corporation demanding its removal.
The unfortunate incident took place when the hoarding was in the process of being dismantled. However, it crashed with a thud all of a sudden on a two-wheeler, a car, half a dozen auto-rickshaws and some pedestrians.
