After Mumbai school bus tragedy, Thane mayor orders survey of dangerous trees

The Thane Municipal Corporation has launched a citywide survey of potentially dangerous trees following the death of an 11yearold student after a tree collapsed on a school bus in Mumbai during heavy rainfall earlier this weekThane Mayor Sharmila Pimpalolkar on Wednesday directed civic officials to identify hazardous trees reassess previously pruned trees and take preventive measures to minimise the risk of similar incidents during the monsoonMayor orders inspection of trees at public placesPimpalolkar convened an emergency meeting of the Thane Municipal Corporations Tree Authority Department and instructed officials to conduct inspections of trees located within school and college premises housing societies hospitals and major traffic junctions across the cityShe also directed the department to carry out a fresh structural assessment of trees that had already undergone pruning to verify their stabilityThe mayor said the exercise should be carried out on priority to reduce the risk posed by ageing or weakened trees during the ongoing monsoon seasonCivic body asked to identify hazardous treesDuring the meeting Pimpalolkar instructed officials to immediately identify trees that are dry leaning structurally weak or otherwise considered hazardousDangerous dried or bent trees as well as large branches should be identified immediately and necessary action should be taken she said while stressing the need for coordination among various civic departments to prevent accidentsShe also directed civic teams to remove branches left on roadsides after pruning operations to prevent traffic disruptions and improve public safety during heavy rainsResidents have been urged to report hazardous trees to the Thane Municipal Corporation so that officials can take timely actionAction follows fatal school bus accident in MumbaiThe directive comes a day after an 11yearold boy was killed and four other students were injured when a peepal tree was uprooted and fell on a moving school bus in Mumbais Chembur areaThe bus was carrying 13 students when the accident occurred on TuesdayAccording to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC the uprooted peepal tree was estimated to be between 60 and 70 years old Civic officials said no formal complaint regarding the trees condition had been received before the incidentThe accident has renewed concerns about the condition of ageing trees across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region particularly during the monsoonNavi Mumbai tree fall raises fresh concernsIn a separate incident on Wednesday night a family narrowly escaped injury after a large tree collapsed in the Post Office Lane area of Vashi in Navi MumbaiOfficials said no injuries were reported in the incidentFollowing the tree fall Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dr Kailas B Shinde directed civic teams to immediately clear the debris and restore normal movement in the areaResidents seek comprehensive tree health auditThe recent incidents have prompted residents and environmental groups to demand a comprehensive health audit of trees across the regionThey have urged civic authorities to scientifically assess ageing and internally decayed trees that may not show visible signs of deterioration but could pose a danger during heavy rain and strong windsOfficials are expected to intensify inspections across Thane as part of the citys monsoon preparedness measures to reduce the risk of treerelated accidentsWith inputs from PTI