Maharashtra Minister Clarifies Remarks After Mumbai Tree Fall Tragedy
A day after a tree collapsed on a school bus in Mumbai, killing an 11-year-old student and injuring four others, Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Sanjay Shirsat faced criticism for initially stating that such incidents are 'not in human hands.' On Wednesday, he sought to clarify his comments, attributing them to being misquoted and stressing that civic bodies should have ensured proper tree maintenance.
The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon in the Chembur suburb when a large peepal tree fell onto a bus carrying 13 students of Universal High School. The deceased was identified as Vihan Srivastava. A four-year-old girl was among those injured.
Shirsat, a Shiv Sena minister, had told reporters on Tuesday: 'How was one to know that the tree was going to fall? Falling of a tree or lightning is not in our hands. Maybe there were heavy winds.' The remarks drew sharp reactions from opposition parties, including Congress and NCP (SP).
Congress leader Nana Patole accused the BJP-led Mahayuti government of arrogance, stating that monsoon preparedness was 'only on paper.' NCP (SP) leader Clyde Crasto called the remarks 'shameful' and 'insensitive,' arguing that proper tree audits and maintenance should have been conducted before the monsoon.
On Wednesday, Shirsat defended his statements, claiming they were misconstrued. 'I had said that even though falling of trees is natural, civic authorities should take due precautions. Trees which are about to collapse should be removed before the onset of monsoon,' he said. He added that his comments were meant to emphasize the need for proactive measures, not to dismiss the tragedy.
The minister noted that tree audits are conducted regularly and that the state government will make a statement on the incident in the legislative assembly. He also stated that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been directed to take necessary precautions to prevent future accidents.
The issue was raised in the Legislative Assembly, with ruling Shiv Sena members Tukaram Kate and Murji Patel criticizing the BMC. Kate, whose Chembur constituency includes the accident site, said he had repeatedly called for precautionary measures. Patel called for a comprehensive tree survey and noted that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had extended financial assistance of ₹2.5 lakh to the victim's family.
In the Legislative Council, Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap sought a discussion, stating that the BMC's garden and tree department has records of every tree in Mumbai and cannot ignore the problem.
