Biker crushed to death in Noida as billboard falls during storm

One person died while another seriously injured when a huge road signage fell down at Sector 18 during the Monday evening storm, police said.

One person died while another seriously injured when a huge road signage fell down at Sector 18 during the Monday evening storm, police said.

A giant signboard fell during a storm on a car and a bike passing by outside DLF mall, Sector 18, Noida on Monday. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

The victim, Munna Kumar, 27, was waiting near the gantry near DLF Mall when it fell down.

“Munna died on the spot. He lived in Faridabad. He was on his Bajaj Platina bike with one Pushpender, who is critically injured and is undergoing treatment at Max Hospital,” said Vant Narayan Rai, in charge, police post DLF Mall.

The board was so huge, it had to be removed with the help of a crane.

A Maruti Suzuki Alto car, bearing registration number DL3C BL 4491 was also damaged in the accident. However, the occupants of the car escaped unhurt.

The accident triggered a massive traffic snarl. One lane of the road was blocked during the peak traffic time. The gantry apparently fell down due to heavy wind, police said. The gantry was later removed by a crane.

The Bajaj Platina biker Munna couldn’t escape the fall of the giant board in the storm.

“It all happened in a fraction of a second. Passerby and some private security guards took the victims to the hospital,” said RS Singh, an eyewitness who was on his way to Sector 18 Market when the incident took place.

The Noida authority said it will probe the matter.

Even the bike was crushed. Though Munna could not be saved, Pushpender escaped with some injuries.

“The incident is very unfortunate. We will constitute an enquiry to investigate the matter,” said Rama Raman, chief executive officer (CEO), Noida authority.

District magistrate NP Singh said, “I will ask the Noida authority to set up a team of engineers to verify the structural strength of other signages and hoardings in the city so that such incidents do not recur.”