Mumbai: What should have been a routine journey home from school ended in heartbreak for a family in Mumbai after a 11 year old boy lost his life when a massive roadside peepal tree crashed onto a school bus in Chembur on Tuesday. The incident has now sparked serious questions over whether enough was done to identify and remove dangerous trees before the monsoon.
A day after the tragedy, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde said civic officials had informed her that roadside trees in the area had been trimmed as part of the city’s pre monsoon exercise. However, she added that if residents had indeed complained about the condition of the tree and those warnings were ignored, strict action would be taken against those responsible. An inquiry has been ordered to determine whether there was any negligence.
The accident took place around 2:58 pm on Road No. 11 in Chembur when an old peepal tree suddenly uprooted during heavy rain and fell directly onto a moving school bus belonging to Universal High School. The bus was carrying students home when the tree crushed a portion of the vehicle, triggering panic among the children inside.
Locals, the bus driver and conductor rushed to rescue the trapped children before teams from the Mumbai Fire Brigade and police reached the spot. Five students were taken to Zen Hospital, where 11 year old Vihan Shrivastav succumbed to his injuries. Four other children sustained injuries but are reported to be out of danger.
After visiting the accident site and later meeting the victim’s family and injured students at the hospital, Mayor Tawde said the incident must be thoroughly investigated.
According to the mayor, civic officials told her that tree trimming had been carried out in the locality before the monsoon. At the same time, she acknowledged reports that residents had raised concerns about the tree’s condition in the past. She said the inquiry would examine whether any complaints had been overlooked and whether timely action could have prevented the tragedy. If any lapse is established, the officials concerned will face action.
Residents of the area claimed the tree had shown signs of weakness for months, with some alleging that its exposed roots had become a cause for concern. Those claims are now expected to form part of the civic investigation, which will also examine the health of the tree, maintenance records and whether nearby roadwork may have affected its stability.
The incident has once again drawn attention to Mumbai’s recurring tree fall accidents during the monsoon. Every year, heavy rain and strong winds lead to dozens of trees and branches collapsing across the city, disrupting traffic, damaging property and, in some cases, claiming lives. While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation conducts annual pre monsoon pruning, experts have long argued that trimming branches alone is not enough and that ageing trees require regular structural and root health assessments.
For many parents, Tuesday’s tragedy has renewed concerns about the safety of school routes during the rainy season. Residents are now demanding more rigorous inspections of roadside trees, especially near schools, hospitals and densely populated neighbourhoods.
As investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the collapse, one question remains at the centre of the probe could the death of an 11 year old child have been prevented? The findings of the inquiry are expected to determine whether the incident was an unavoidable consequence of extreme weather or the result of a preventable civic lapse.
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