Bengaluru: What should have been a routine drive home turned into a nightmare for Salil Kumar and his wife Archana on Thursday evening, as an enormous illegal hoarding weighing over 10 tonnes came crashing down on their SUV amidst heavy rain.
The couple, residents of Prestige Tranquility Apartments on Budigere Road, were returning from KR Puram around 7:30 pm in their Mahindra XUV 700 when the accident occurred near Bommanahalli. Driving cautiously at just 20 kmph due to the downpour, they were within sight of their apartment when the metal structure collapsed without warning.
“It felt like everything exploded in a second. We were just relieved to be alive,” said Salil, a private firm employee. The SUV’s front end was crushed, trapping the couple inside. With the front doors jammed, they were rescued by helpful bystanders through the rear doors.
Police said the hoarding, spanning over 50 feet and lacking a central support pillar, had been installed illegally years ago without design approval. Its collapse blocked traffic, prompting Hoskote police to call in cranes and clear the road by 9 pm.
Following the incident, concerned residents lodged complaints with authorities, demanding the removal of unauthorized structures. The KRDCL clarified that they never issued permission for the hoarding and blamed misuse of local panchayat approvals, which carry no legal weight for highway installations.
A case has been filed, and investigations are underway to identify those responsible.
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