Pune: Heavy rain and strong winds in Wagholi on Tuesday (October 22) night resulted in damage to a vegetable vendor’s cart when a flex banner from a hoarding tore and fell onto it.

The incident occurred at around 9:30 p.m. when a heavy downpour, accompanied by strong winds, hit the area for about 30 to 45 minutes.

Vinod and Yamuna Kapte, a couple who run a vegetable cart near Shivam Medical on Kesnand Road, suffered minor injuries as their cart was overturned by the large piece of cloth that fell from a nearby hoarding.

The impact of the falling cloth spilled their vegetables onto the ground, causing financial loss. Additionally, the flex also broke the signboard of a nearby cake shop.

This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. These flex banners, when torn by wind, often fall on electrical wires, damaging them and leading to power outages in the area.

The size of these flex materials leads to widespread damage when they fall, endangering both people and property.

Unauthorized Hoardings and Negligence by Authorities:

Wagholi, particularly along the Pune-Nagar Highway, is dotted with unauthorized hoardings mounted on electric poles along the divider. These hoardings not only mar the aesthetic of the city but also cause accidents when they fall onto the highway.

Despite the election code of conduct being in effect, many of these hoardings, including political banners, have not been removed due to the negligence of the Nagar Road Ward Office.