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Mumbai's Monsoon Menace: Trees Fall Daily
7 Jul
Summary
- 826 trees fell in Mumbai in the first fortnight of monsoon.
- Three lives were claimed by falling trees recently.
- Poor pruning and construction damage weaken city trees.
Mumbai is experiencing a severe public safety crisis due to an alarming number of falling trees during the current monsoon. Between June 22 and July 5, 826 trees and over 1,200 branches crashed across the city. This has resulted in three fatalities, including an 11-year-old boy in Chembur, following excavation work near the tree.
Complaints regarding fallen trees and branches surged significantly between June 30 and July 6, peaking on July 6 with 523 reports as wind speeds reached 77 kmph. Experts attribute the increased tree falls not solely to the monsoon but also to unscientific pre-monsoon pruning and the weakening of root systems by road concretization and repeated excavation.
Botanists emphasize that urban planning often neglects environmental concerns, leading to vulnerable trees. They advocate for infrastructure work to be conducted in consultation with experts to protect root systems. This contrasts with cities like Singapore, which has significantly reduced tree fall incidents through scientific pruning and monitoring.
