BMC Orders Fresh Inquiry After Chembur Peepal Tree Collapse Kills 11-Year-Old

Mumbai, July 30, 2026: A thorough investigation will be conducted by a three-member committee into the Chembur tree fall mishap, and the BMC has appointed botany expert and former Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Sanjay Deshmukh for a re-investigation. The step comes two weeks after the BMC House and Mayor Ritu Tawde rejected the preliminary inquiry report and directed a re-investigation. The committee will submit its report within a month, the civic administration said on Thursday.It was on June 30 that 11-year-old Vihan Shrivastav was killed and four other children were injured after a roadside tree collapsed on a school bus carrying them. The two-member committee, consisting of Deputy Municipal Commissioners, had prima facie given a clean chit to the Roads and Gardens departments and fined the contractors for negligence. It was unacceptable to the BMC general body that no action was taken against the officers or engineers held responsible. The Mayor had directed the administration to appoint third-party experts and conduct a re-investigation.Committee To Conduct Fresh ProbeThe committee will study matters such as the examination of the methodology used by the preliminary inquiry committee, independent analysis of the evidence presented by the preliminary inquiry committee, and evaluation of the preliminary investigation report from the perspectives of engineering, botany, ecology, drainage, sewage disposal, road construction, meteorology, soil science and public administration.The committee will also undertake a scientific examination of the preliminary inquiry observations, an independent analysis of the root cause of the incident, an evaluation of the interim measures recommended by the preliminary inquiry committee, a critical review of the recommendations in the report and suggest future policy reforms. The report will be submitted to Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide within a month.Also Watch: 'Tore Up The Report': Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde Rejects BMC's Clean Chit To Officials In Chembur Tree Collapse CaseDepartments Asked To Cooperate"All the concerned department heads will be instructed to provide the necessary documents to this committee for investigation and to be present during the site visit. All the necessary cooperation will be provided by all the concerned departments to enable the committee to submit its report," the civic administration said.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

Mumbai, July 23, 2026: Despite a series of fatal tree-collapse incidents this monsoon, the BMC has yet to fill 36 vacant posts in its Garden Department, hampering critical tree management and maintenance works across the city. Flagging the issue, BMC Market and Garden Committee Chairperson Hetal Gala has written to Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, urging her to fill the vacancies on priority to strengthen the department's capacity.Between June 22 and July 17, 902 trees were uprooted and 1,251 branches collapsed across public spaces and private properties in Mumbai, claiming three lives and raising serious concerns over public safety. Despite the fatalities, the Garden Department, responsible for identifying hazardous trees, pruning dangerous branches and removing unsafe trees, continues to grapple with staff shortages, hampering preventive maintenance and timely action.Vacancies Hamper Tree ManagementIn her letter, Gala said, "The BMC's Garden Department is functioning with 36 vacancies out of 106 sanctioned posts for horticulture assistants and junior tree officers, severely affecting its day-to-day operations. The manpower shortage has hampered routine maintenance of gardens and recreation grounds, roadside tree plantation and conservation, pre-monsoon pruning, tree health inspections and other essential horticultural works."Urging immediate intervention, she requested Bhide to fill the vacant posts on priority and ensure the timely execution of critical tree-management activities.A senior civic official admitted that the manpower shortage has made it increasingly difficult to carry out critical tree-management works on time. Between June 22 and July 17, the BMC removed 3,841 hazardous trees and branches from public spaces and private premises across Mumbai. The civic body has urged residents to avoid sheltering under trees during heavy rain or strong winds and to report fallen or hazardous trees and branches to the 1916 helpline immediately.Also Watch: Mumbai: BMC Clears 3,841 Hazardous Trees And Branches After 3 Fatal Monsoon IncidentsFatal Incidents This MonsoonJune 30: Eleven-year-old Vihaan Shrivastava was killed after a roadside tree uprooted and crashed onto his school bus in Chembur.July 5: Eighteen-year-old Hasan Raza Jahangir Alam Syed died in Aarey Colony after a tree branch fell on his motorcycle.July 6: Sixty-three-year-old Yunus Kundawala was killed in Kurla West when a tree collapsed onto the shop where he was present.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) staged a protest on Wednesday at Azad Maidan over the alleged negligence of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) following its report on the death of an 11-year-old child in Chembur after a tree fell on a school bus.Mumbai, Maharashtra: MNS staged a protest at Azad Maidan against the BMC over its inquiry into the death of an 11-year-old student after a tree fell on a school bus in Chembur. pic.twitter.com/XW8UnkxTgI— IANS (@ians_india) July 22, 2026 The protest follows the BMC report, which stated that no one could be held responsible in the case. MNS workers protested against what they termed systemic negligence and demanded justice from the BMC.MNS demands accountabilityMeanwhile, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande, speaking on the matter, stated, “A month ago, a small child was killed after a tree fell on him, but the inquiry commission concluded that no one was responsible. Our demand is simple—there must be accountability in the system."Further blaming the BMC for the issue, he said, “We announced this agitation a week ago and submitted a letter to the Commissioner, but we were not even called for discussions. I think the system's ego—that no one can challenge it—needs to be set aside."Chembur tragedy revisitedThe Chembur school bus accident occured on June 30, 2026, when a massive tree collapsed onto a school bus, killing an 11-year-old child and injuring nearly four students.According to the authorities, there were 14 students on board when the bus left the school. Two students got off earlier along the route. The accident occurred when the bus had halted on Road No. 11, near the Heritage Pride building, to drop another student. At that moment, the roadside tree suddenly collapsed onto the vehicle.Following the incident, Mumbai Police registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR). The BMC, in its report on the case, stated that no individual could be held responsible for the accident.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

Mumbai, July 18, 2026: After three fatal incidents and mounting criticism, the BMC has intensified its drive to remove hazardous trees and branches. According to civic data, between June 22 and July 17, the civic body cleared 3,841 dangerous trees and branches from public spaces and private premises across Mumbai, while work at the remaining 542 locations is underway.Between June 22 and July 17, a total of 902 trees were uprooted and 1,251 branches collapsed across public spaces, housing societies, colonies and other private properties in Mumbai. Following the incidents, the BMC's Gardens Department assessed cases on civic and private properties separately and undertook clearance work. "At some locations, the removal of fallen trees and branches is being carried out in phases due to site conditions, weather, safety concerns and the need for necessary permissions," said an official of the BMC's Gardens Department.He further added that the department's control room, ward offices and emergency teams remain operational round the clock, with adequate manpower, equipment and machinery on standby throughout the monsoon to respond to such incidents. "The drive to clear fallen trees and branches will continue, with public safety remaining the top priority," he said.Clearance Work ContinuesAccording to data from June 22 to July 17, 2026, a total of 367 trees were uprooted in civic areas, of which 359 have been removed and work is underway at eight locations. On private premises, 524 trees fell, with 452 cleared and action pending at 72 locations. During the same period, 552 branches fell in civic areas, of which 541 have been removed and work is underway at 11 locations. On private premises, 723 branches collapsed, with 632 cleared and action pending at 91 locations.In addition, tree trimming was required at 2,206 unclaimed locations. Work has been completed at 1,857 sites and is underway at the remaining 360. The BMC's Gardens Department has urged citizens to avoid standing under trees during heavy rain or strong winds. Citizens have also been advised to immediately contact the BMC helpline at 1916 if they spot a fallen tree, a tree posing a risk of collapse or a fallen branch.Also Watch: BMC To Consult IIT Bombay, Mumbai University On Tree Falls As Civic Chief Ashwini Bhide Rejects Road Concretisation As Sole CauseFatal Incidents This MonsoonJune 30: Eleven-year-old Vihaan Shrivastava was killed after a roadside tree uprooted and crashed onto his school bus in Chembur.July 5: Eighteen-year-old Hasan Raza Jahangir Alam Syed died in Aarey Colony after a tree branch fell on his motorcycle.July 6: Sixty-three-year-old Yunus Kundawala was killed in Kurla West when a tree collapsed onto the shop where he was present.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

An 11-year-old student, Vihaan Srivastav, was killed when a tree was uprooted and fell on a moving school bus in Chembur on June 30.

Mumbai, July 16: The BMC's internal probe into the Chembur tree-collapse death came under fire on Thursday, with the civic general body rejecting its clean chit to the Garden and Roads departments. The Peepal tree collapsed after excavation work around it, killing an 11-year-old school student. Mayor Ritu Tawde ordered a fresh third-party inquiry, while the House demanded that officials responsible for the alleged lapses be held accountable.House Rejects Internal ProbeRaising a point of order, Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar launched a scathing attack on the BMC's internal inquiry report, accusing it of shielding civic officials while imposing only a Rs 7 lakh penalty on the contractor and consultant.“If the Garden Department had repeatedly warned that the tree's roots had been damaged during road excavation, why did the concerned Assistant Road Engineer fail to act?” Khankar asked. “We will not allow the administration to pass the buck for its own failures. Contractors cannot be allowed to run the BMC.”Calling the findings an attempt to “whitewash” the civic administration's role, Khankar rejected the report, tore up a copy in the House in protest and demanded a fresh independent third-party inquiry into the incident. Tawde also expressed outrage, saying the crucial inquiry report had not been shared with either her or Garden Committee Chairperson Hetal Gala.Tawde said she had earlier inspected the same stretch in Chembur and raised concerns over the visibly weak trees. “The site engineer assured me that all necessary precautions had been taken. Yet the incident happened,” she said.Mayor Orders Fresh InquiryTawde pointed out that local residents, activists and public representatives had repeatedly alerted the BMC about the dangerous trees, but their warnings were ignored.“Eleven people have lost their lives this monsoon in incidents involving tree collapses, house collapses and open manholes, yet the administration has failed Mumbaikars. Instead of fixing responsibility, it is protecting its own officials,” Tawde said.Rejecting the inquiry report, she said it would be sent back to the administration and ordered a fresh independent inquiry, with strict action against officials found responsible.BMC Responds In HouseReplying to the civic House, Additional Municipal Commissioner Avinash Dhakane said it was scientifically difficult to predict exactly when a tree might collapse.“We have been consulting experts on measures to protect trees and prevent such incidents. Mumbai has nearly two lakh roadside trees, most of which were planted around 50 years ago. The Peepal tree that collapsed in Chembur was around 60 years old,” he said.Also Watch: Chembur Tree Collapse: BMC Inquiry Report Sparks Row As Mayor Ritu Tawde Rejects Clean Chit To Civic DepartmentsDhakane said the BMC was examining measures to identify and address potentially dangerous trees. Pointing out that tree-collapse incidents had also been reported in Thane, Pune and Navi Mumbai, he said the administration would take further action in view of the concerns raised by the civic House.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/