384 trees collapse in only four days in Mumbai

As many as 384 trees or big branches fall in the last four days of pre-monsoon showers. Although the city is no more as windy as it was a couple of days ago, tree collapse incidents still continue. Such incidents resulted in the death of three people and severe injury of another two. In the monsoon of 2018, between June and September, as many as 1,007 tree/branch collapse incidents were reported and six people had died.

The city has been under the influence of Vayu since Monday. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) received calls about the collapse of 231 trees or branches across the city, from Wednesday to Thursday. The maximum amount of damage was caused in the western suburbs, where as many as 107 trees or branches collapsed. In the southern part of the city, 69 trees or branches fell.

As per a BMC report, 85 trees/branches collapsed on Friday and 68 on Saturday taking the total tally to 384 in only four days.

"The trees don't get enough space to spread its roots and hold on to the adjacent land tightly. Thus, such trees fall under the influence of strong winds or heavy rains," said D Stalin, an environmentalist.

Not only during monsoon, but tree collapse incidents are also reported around the year. In the last five months, the BMC has received complaints about 674 tree/branch fall cases; out of which 183 occurred in the southern part of the city.