Mumbai, July 1: Shiv Sena UBT leader and MLA Aditya Thackeray has targeted Mumbai’s Mayor Ritu Tawde. He stated that the number of fallen trees across Mumbai in the last 24 hours is proof of what has been said: pre-monsoon preparations in Mumbai have not been completed.
Thackeray accused the BJP Mayor of focusing more on the Ministry of Home Affairs and Bangladesh rather than fulfilling her duties to the residents of Mumbai.
He noted that the opposition leader, Kishori Pednekar, is visiting concerning sites, whether they are dirty drains, incomplete roadworks, or other issues. However, the ruling party is only concentrating on their favored contractors.
He expressed shame that India’s highest tax-paying city is facing such incompetent administration that lacks governance skills. “Show me a city governed by the BJP in the last 12 years that has performed well with the support of the central and state governments. All cities under the BJP have drowned in chaos and corruption,” he added.
On June 30, 2026, at around 2:30 PM, a peepal tree fell on a bus from ‘Universal High School’ near the Haritaj Pritam building on Road Number 11, Diamond Garden, Chembur West. Thirteen children were trapped in the bus. Twelve of them were rescued by the Mumbai Fire Department, the bus driver, and local citizens, and were sent to a nearby hospital for treatment. Four out of five students sustained minor injuries, while 11-year-old Vihaan Srivastava was admitted in critical condition. Unfortunately, doctors later declared him dead. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide took serious note of the incident and formed an inquiry committee for a thorough investigation. The committee has been ordered to submit its report within eight days. They are also instructed to seek expert advice and make recommendations to prevent such incidents in Mumbai.
The fallen peepal tree was 60 to 70 years old. No official public complaints regarding this tree had been received prior to the incident. However, in January 2026, the assistant commissioner of M West Division had instructed inspections of roadside works in the area and to take necessary precautions. A survey of the fallen tree was completed on May 12, 2026. According to external inspections, the tree was found to be in good condition and strong. Following the customary pre-monsoon practices, the tree was pruned on May 29, 2026, and was deemed safe at that time. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s park department conducts tree pruning every year with caution before the monsoon.
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