Mumbai:
A man died after a tree fell on him today in Mumbai, the third such incident in recent memory. A few days ago, a student died after a tree broke off and crushed a school bus.
Today’s incident was reported from Kurla district. Yunus Hakimuddin Sheikh, 63, who had recently bought a shop in the area, was there to prepare for its opening when the tree hit him with great force. The tragedy was recorded on a CCTV camera.
Residents claimed that no one from the municipal agency came for at least two hours after the tree fell. CCTV footage captured Sheikh standing outside his new shop before the tree collapsed on him, also damaging cars parked below.
Concerns have been raised about the health of trees in urban areas, with haphazard construction and other factors such as concrete slabs blocking roots leading to weakened trees.
In the first recent incident, 11-year-old Vihaan Srivastava was killed and four other children were injured when a tree collapsed on their bus while they were on their way home. It was a 60-70 year old tree that was examined on May 12 and found to be strong and healthy. On May 29, he also underwent a scheduled pruning.
Details about the tree that fell during the rain today are awaited from the municipal corporation.
Mumbai is witnessing rain-related disruptions with several incidents of large branches and trees falling on roads and vehicles being reported in some parts of the city. The incessant downpour led to traffic jams and delays, prompting civic authorities to urge commuters to exercise caution, especially in areas prone to flooding and falling trees.
Commuters using the busy Kurla-Andheri road have expressed concern, noting that the combination of uneven surfaces and hidden catch basins increases the risks exponentially.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) today issued a red alert for Mumbai and Raigad district following heavy rainfall that began on Saturday evening. In Mumbai, several areas of the city received more than 250-300 mm of rainfall in the last 23 hours.
The IMD has forecast moderate to intense rainfall in these regions. Over the past few days, a balcony of a dilapidated building in Belapur village, Navi Mumbai, collapsed amid continued heavy rains. The building was reported to be in a severe state of disrepair.