A severe windstorm recently triggered a dangerous incident near the Chenab Toll Plaza. A massive advertising billboard belonging to the famous brand Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) collapsed during the storm. Consequently, the heavy structure crashed down and damaged three vehicles parked nearby.
Fortunately, no injuries or casualties were reported from the scene. However, the incident caused significant financial loss to the car owners. The affected citizens belong to Gujrat, Sialkot, and Lalamusa.
Following the accident, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Gujrat, Noor-ul-Ain, took immediate action. The district administration intervened right away to handle the situation. Furthermore, authorities launched a swift investigation into the brand’s legal approvals.
Swift Action Against CBTL & 100% Compensation for Victims
The district administration quickly directed CBTL to take full responsibility for the accident. Specifically, the administration ordered the company to pay 100% compensation to the affected car owners.
Under the direct supervision of the local authorities, the company smoothly processed the claims. They successfully distributed compensation cheques to all three victims. The administration identified the affected citizens as:
- Umar Butt, a resident of Gujrat
- Khawar Rahat, a resident of Sialkot
- Farooq Haider, a resident of Lalamusa
Local citizens are widely praising this rapid response by DC Gujrat as an excellent initiative.
Investigation Reveals Serious Regulatory Violations
During the official inquiry, investigators uncovered critical details regarding the property. The core building plan of the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf structure was fully approved according to regular official procedures. However, the massive advertising board itself was entirely illegal.
The brand had installed the board within the official boundaries of the National Highway Authority (NHA). Despite this placement, the company never obtained the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the NHA.
Because of this serious violation, the District Council Gujrat took strict legal action. The council officially imposed a heavy fine on the company under the Punjab Local Government Act 2025. Additionally, the district administration discovered another illegal advertising board belonging to the same brand nearby. Teams immediately removed that second illegal structure to ensure public safety.
