'We escaped by seconds': Iceland envoy recalls narrow escape after tree fall near Taj in Mumbai

Gul Kripalani, Consul General of Iceland. Pic/By Special Arrangement

Gul Kripalani, Consul General of Iceland, feels particularly uneasy when he sees and hears about yet another tree falling thanks to the fierce, furious monsoon. It takes him back to, he said, "Saturday, July 4 to be exact. I was in the car with my wife and the chauffeur who was driving us down from Cuffe Parade to a home in Apollo Bunder, Colaba. Incidentally, I too am an Apollo Bunder resident."

Kripalani said, "It was a rainy Saturday, and that afternoon we had high winds. I could see people struggling to keep their umbrellas in their hands. Just as the car passed a section of the Taj hotel, my driver told my wife and me, "Hey, a tree just fell." He looked at the rearview mirror and said it was a mammoth tree. We had passed that spot a second or two ago; that is how close it was."

Help needed?

Kripalani told his driver to turn the car back and go as close to the tree fall spot as possible. He wanted to be on site to help, in case anybody needed an emergency ride. "I saw it fallen across the road with the leaves and branches on the opposite side of the hotel, but thankfully nobody was hurt."

Divine blessing

Looking at the gigantic tree, Kripalani was certain that it would have crushed the car he was traveling in, which had passed by just two seconds ago. "This is a divine blessing that I am talking to you; somebody up there was looking out for us," said the Consul General. Box His message.

"Authorities do check the trees across the city, even if it may be late, but action can prevent injuries or save some lives, even now. When it comes to human life, it is never about too little, too late, but better late than never," concluded Kripalani.