A 63-year-old man was killed after a tree fell on him in Mumbai’s Kurla area on Sunday amid heavy rainfall, marking the third recent fatal incident involving falling trees in the city as monsoon-related disruptions continue to raise concerns over public safety. The deceased, identified as Yunus Hakimuddin Sheikh, had recently purchased a shop in the Kurla neighbourhood and had reportedly gone there to prepare for its opening when the accident occurred. According to local reports, the tree suddenly collapsed, striking Sheikh with great force. The incident, which was captured on CCTV, also caused damage to several vehicles parked nearby.
Emergency responders later reached the spot, but Sheikh succumbed to his injuries. Residents alleged that officials from the municipal corporation did not arrive at the site for nearly two hours after the tree fell. The CCTV footage reportedly shows Sheikh standing outside his newly acquired shop moments before the tree came crashing down. The delay in the civic response has triggered criticism from locals, who questioned the preparedness of authorities during the ongoing monsoon season, when incidents involving fallen trees become more frequent.
The latest tragedy has intensified concerns about the health and maintenance of trees in Mumbai’s densely built urban areas. Experts and residents have repeatedly pointed to factors such as unplanned construction, excessive concretisation around tree bases, and restricted root growth as reasons for weakening trees, making them more susceptible to collapse during heavy rain and strong winds. Officials are yet to disclose details about the age, condition or maintenance history of the tree involved in Sunday’s incident.
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The death comes just days after 11-year-old Vihaan Srivastava was killed when a large tree collapsed onto a school bus carrying children home. Four other students were injured in that incident. According to civic authorities, the 60-70-year-old tree had been inspected on May 12 and declared healthy before undergoing routine trimming on May 29. The back-to-back incidents have prompted renewed scrutiny of the municipal corporation’s tree inspection and maintenance protocols.
Mumbai has been witnessing widespread rain-related disruptions since Saturday night, with several reports of trees and large branches falling across different parts of the city, affecting roads, vehicles and traffic movement. Commuters using the busy Kurla-Andheri road have expressed concern over hazardous driving conditions caused by waterlogging, uneven road surfaces and hidden potholes, which have compounded the risks during the ongoing downpour.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mumbai and neighbouring Raigad district after heavy rainfall lashed the region. According to the weather department, some parts of Mumbai have received more than 250 to 300 mm of rainfall over the past 23 hours. The IMD has forecast moderate to intense rainfall to continue across the region, urging residents to remain cautious.
Heavy rains have also led to other structural incidents in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. In Navi Mumbai, a balcony of a severely dilapidated building in Belapur village collapsed amid continuous rainfall, further highlighting the risks posed by ageing infrastructure during the monsoon. Civic authorities have appealed to citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, remain alert in areas vulnerable to flooding or falling trees, and immediately report any dangerous structures or leaning trees to the authorities as the city continues to experience intense monsoon conditions.
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