Kurla tree collapse: Mumbai Mayor announces Rs 5-lakh aid for victim's family, orders citywide audit

Speaking at the site, Mayor Ritu Tawde directed BMC officials to immediately carry out a comprehensive tree audit across Mumbai. PIC/BMC

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde visited the accident site in Kurla West on Sunday, where a massive tree branch fell on a shop, killing a 63-year-old resident. The mayor announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the family of the deceased, Yunus Kundawala.

The incident occurred around 1 pm near Naupada when a tree branch suddenly collapsed on the shop amid heavy rainfall. Kundawala was trapped under the debris and was declared brought dead at Fauzia Hospital.

Upon receiving information about the incident, Tawde reached the site, carried out an inspection and met the bereaved family members. She expressed her condolences and assured them of all possible support from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

During the visit, the mayor directed BMC officials to immediately undertake a comprehensive tree audit across Mumbai, particularly in Kurla and other vulnerable areas. She also instructed officials to carry out tree trimming and remove dangerous trees on a war footing during the monsoon to prevent similar incidents.

"Citizens' safety is our top priority. No negligence will be tolerated," she said.

Local corporators Harish Bhandirge and Nitesh Singh, senior BMC officials and police personnel were present during the mayor's visit.

Opposition reacts

Earlier in the day, former Mumbai Mayor and current Leader of the Opposition in the BMC, Kishori Pednekar, criticised the delay in Tawde's visit, saying the mayor should have reached the site immediately.

"We are waiting for the Mayor. It has been more than four hours… We want the Mayor to come to the ground," Pednekar had said.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad alleged that despite repeated claims by the civic administration and the ruling party that monsoon preparedness was "100 per cent complete", large trees collapsed, resulting in loss of life and property, roads caved in, residential societies were flooded, and traffic came to a standstill.

The Kurla incident was the third fatal tree-fall incident reported in Mumbai in less than a week amid the ongoing monsoon rains. On July 2, an 11-year-old student was killed after a tree fell on his school bus in Chembur.

On Saturday, a 19-year-old biker was crushed to death in Aarey Colony after a tree branch broke off and fell on him.

(With IANS and PTI inputs)