Mumbai
oi-Prakash KL
One student has died and several others were injured after a tree fell on a school bus in Mumbai’s Chembur amid intense monsoon showers, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an Orange Alert for six districts, warning of moderate to intense rainfall at isolated places over the next three hours.
The weather alert covers Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, with authorities advising residents to remain cautious as heavy rains continued across Mumbai and neighbouring areas on Wednesday.
One student died and others were injured when a tree fell on a school bus in Mumbai’s Chembur during intense monsoon showers, prompting an IMD Orange Alert for Mumbai and five neighboring districts due to warnings of heavy rainfall.
The fatal incident occurred on Road Number 11 in Chembur on Tuesday afternoon when a roadside peepal tree, uprooted by strong winds and heavy rainfall, crashed onto a school bus carrying students from Universal High School and Tilak Nagar School.
The impact trapped several occupants inside the vehicle. Local residents and the bus conductor immediately rushed to help the students, while emergency teams used specialised cutting equipment to remove the debris and rescue those trapped.
Civic officials said 12 students were inside the bus at the time of the accident. One student died due to severe injuries, while several others were taken to Zen Hospital and Jain Hospital for treatment.
The incident has led to political criticism, with questions being raised over whether authorities acted on earlier warnings about the condition of the tree.
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde said the tree had reportedly undergone trimming earlier. “A tragic incident occurred where a large tree fell on a bus, resulting in the death of one child and injuries to others. The incident happened on Road Number 11, where tree trimming had previously been conducted,” she said.
With inputs from agencies.
Heavy rain disrupts Mumbai life
The southwest monsoon intensified across Mumbai and several parts of Maharashtra, causing widespread waterlogging, traffic disruptions and multiple tree-fall incidents.
A tree also collapsed at Churchgate’s Marine Drive due to heavy rainfall, prompting restoration and clearance work by authorities.
In the western suburbs, an uprooted tree near DN Nagar Metro Station damaged a transit bus and affected movement in the area. Another large tree fell across Swami Vivekananda (SV) Road in Andheri, blocking traffic until municipal workers and fire brigade personnel cleared the obstruction using mechanised equipment.
Poor visibility and slippery roads also contributed to a two-vehicle collision on the Eastern Freeway on Tuesday morning. Further details on injuries from the crash were awaited.
Heavy rainfall caused severe waterlogging in several key areas, including the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), where flooding slowed traffic during peak hours. Wadala also witnessed significant water accumulation, forcing commuters to wade through knee-deep water.
Thane wall collapse reported
Meanwhile, in Thane, a compound wall at Thane Textile Medical Park Pvt. Ltd. collapsed late on Tuesday night. The incident was reported at around 10.58 pm, with no injuries reported.
Officials from the construction department, Fire Brigade and the Wagle Ward Disaster Management Cell reached the site and cleared the debris from the road using a JCB machine.
A nearby tree was also found to be in a dangerous condition and the matter has been referred to the Tree Authority Department for further action.
With heavy rainfall expected to continue, the IMD’s Orange Alert has put Mumbai and neighbouring districts on heightened watch as civic agencies remain engaged in managing waterlogging, road blockages and rain-related emergencies.
