25 May,2026 07:46 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram Kavattur
Tourist cab driver Shekhar Anand Lokhande stands beside his damaged vehicle after surviving the tree collapse incident in Santacruz West. Pics/Shadab Khan
A tourist cab driver and his three passengers had a miraculous escape on Sunday afternoon after a large Peepal tree uprooted and crashed onto their moving car on Linking Road in Santacruz West, severely damaging the vehicle but leaving both occupants unharmed.
The incident took place near the former Jack & Jones store on Linking Road when Shekhar Anand Lokhande was driving tourists from JW Marriott in Santacruz West to Nariman Point. Lokhande said the journey had been smooth until seconds before the tree came crashing down.
Authorities clear the uprooted Peepal tree from Linking Road after it fell onto a moving car in Santacruz West on Sunday
"Suddenly, I heard a loud noise, and within seconds, I saw the tree falling. If I had accelerated to escape, we would have been crushed under it," said Lokhande.
Sequence of events
>> Tourist picked up from JW Marriott Juhu
>> Car travelling along Linking Road
>> Peepal tree suddenly uprooted and collapsed at 3.20 pm
>> A tree fell onto a moving vehicle within seconds
>> Locals rushed to rescue the driver and passengers
>> Police reached the spot shortly after being alerted
According to Lokhande, the vehicle was positioned in the middle of the road when the tree fell, preventing the trunk from directly crushing the car.
Authorities inspect the damaged tourist cab after a Peepal tree uprooted and fell on the vehicle at Linking Road in Santacruz West on Sunday. Pics/Shadab Khan
Key factors
>> Only upper branches landed directly on the vehicle
>> Driver's side sustained lesser damage
>> Doors on the driver's side could still be opened
>> Bystanders helped occupants exit safely
"It was like God had saved us from getting crushed," Lokhande said.
While no injuries were reported, the vehicle suffered extensive damage.
What Lokhande said
>> Car used for tourist transport is his only source of income
>> Repair costs expected to be high
>> Insurance claim process underway
>> Complaint registered at Santacruz police station
"Driving tourists is my sole bread and butter, so I hope the car gets repaired soon," he said.
Lokhande said police arrived quickly after locals alerted authorities and assisted him with filing a complaint.
H West ward officer Dinesh Pallewad said civic authorities were informed about the incident and confirmed there were no casualties.
"We were relieved to hear that no casualties had occurred in the incident. No tree-felling activity had been happening in the area as per my knowledge," Pallewad said.
