Massive highway hoarding crashes in Hoskote due to heavy rain, winds

Bengaluru: A massive hoarding collapsed along the Hoskote toll highway near Bengaluru following heavy rain and gusty winds on Thursday, triggering fresh concerns over the unchecked spread of large advertisement structures in and around the city.

No injuries were reported, though the collapse caused panic among commuters and local residents.

Large hoardings and gantries have come up illegally along highways leading into the city, but no action has been taken against such advertisers.

Billboards have also started appearing inside the city, featuring photographs of MLAs in an apparent attempt to pressure officials into granting permission.

Lack of approval and absence of adequate safety checks could lead to major disasters as enforcement remains weak.

The unchecked structures are also allegedly leading to revenue leakage.

The collapse comes amid repeated weather-related disruptions over the past few weeks, during which strong winds and heavy rain have damaged trees, electric poles and temporary structures.