mobanmarketDubai: An illegal hoarding claimed the life of a software engineer in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, after it fell on her as she was riding home after work. Indian media reports say that S Jayagopal, a former AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, a regional political party) councilor who had erected the hoardings for his son’s wedding has been booked for death by negligence.
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On Friday, Twitter users from the state took to the micro-blogging site to share news reports about how the 24-year-old R Subashree, who worked at an IT company, was on her two-wheeler on the Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road when an unauthorised life-size hoarding knocked her down. In seconds, a tanker hit her scooter, injuring her on the head.
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Tweeps highlighted the issue of illegal hoardings with the hashtag #WhokilledSubashree.
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@kaigreene22 questioned the authorities: “Why? Despite multiple orders of SC & HC’s most governments countrywide have failed to implement the banning of such practice.”
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And @RajaGanesan0612 added: “Heart goes out for the tragic death of a teenager in Chennai due to illegal hoarding that fell on her while she was driving…Why don’t each of us remove one illegal board that we see on the road…#WhoKilledShubashree”
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The newsminute.com reported: “While Subhasri was immediately rushed to the intensive care unit of a nearby hospital, she passed away after an hour or so. Doctors who were treating her confirmed that Subashri had sustained major injuries to her arms, ribs, and shoulder and failed to respond to their treatment.”
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Indian news website ndtv.com reported that: “The hoardings, which had pictures of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palanisamy, his deputy O. Panneerselvam and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, were put on the median by a local leader of the ruling AIADMK. C Jeyagopal had got the hoardings put up for a family wedding which was attended by Panneerselvam or OPS.”
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“The hoardings are unauthorised. We are taking action against those who put them up,” C Maheswari, Joint Commissioner of Police of Chennai South region, told NDTV.
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According to media reports, the driver of the tanker has been arrested. Chennai’s civic body has sealed the press that allegedly printed the hoarding.
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Soon after the incident, people tore up the hoardings that lined the stretch. Indian newspaper Times of India reported that there were not less than 50 banners and hoardings. AIADMK workers were also seen hurriedly taking down some of the banners.
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News website thenewsminute.com also reported that the Kolathur-based Shanmuga Graphics and Stickers, which had printed the illegal hoardings after securing a contract from Jayagopal remained shut on Friday, following the accident.
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Rules to erect hoardings
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The city corporation has laid out to specific rules for the erection of hoardings of banners. The report states that while a banner can only be erected for a maximum of 6 days, details of the permission issued by the corporation has to be displayed on the hoarding. Further, details of the printers must also be laid out clearly on the hoardings.
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Despite multiple bans and High Court warnings, many politicians and political parties continue to erect hoardings and put up banners for every small event they are associated with. Though people are allowed to erect banners and hoarding after seeking police permission two weeks before, the High Court has repeatedly said that flex banners and hoardings of living persons cannot be put up.
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On Friday, the Madras High Court slammed the government for failing to implement the orders.
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