Mumbai, July 1 (IANS) Taking a serious note of an 11-year-old student’s death after a massive tree collapsed onto a school bus in Mumbai’s Chembur, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) formed an inquiry committee to investigate the accident, and BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide directed it to submit a report within eight days, officials said on Wednesday.

BMC Commissioner Bhide directed the formation of a committee comprising Deputy Commissioner, Special Engineering, Purushottam Malvade and Deputy Commissioner, Engineering, Shashank Bhore to conduct a thorough investigation into the accident caused by the uprooting of a peepal tree on a school bus near Diamond Garden in the city’s Chembur West area.

The committee has been asked to seek expert advice in this matter. It has also been directed to make recommendations to prevent such incidents from happening again.

BMC has reportedly issued directions to suspend the officers concerned who are found to have been negligent. Along with this, strict action will also be taken against the contractor concerned.

A peepal tree fell on the bus of the Universal High School while it was passing near the Haritaj Pritam Building in Chembur West at around 2:30 pm on Tuesday. A total of 13 children were trapped inside the vehicle.

The children were immediately rescued by the Mumbai Fire Department, the bus driver, and local citizens and sent to the nearest hospital for treatment, as some of them were injured.

One of the students, who was seriously injured in the incident and was admitted to the hospital, died during treatment.

According to sources, the uprooted peepal tree was 60 to 70 years old. Prior to the incident, no official public complaint had been received regarding the particular tree. However, in January this year, the Assistant Commissioner of the West Division had given instructions to take necessary precautions by inspecting the roadside works in the area.

An official statement said that the survey of the fallen tree was completed on May 12. According to external observation, the tree in question was found to be strong and in good condition. However, this tree was also pruned on May 29 as per the prevailing practice before the monsoon. At that time, it was found to be in a safe condition.

In order to prevent incidents like the Chembur school bus tragedy from being repeated, BMC Commissioner Bhide has ordered the pruning of dangerous trees and periodic re-inspection. The Municipal Commissioner has also directed that necessary action should be taken regarding the pruning of dangerous trees and maintaining their proper condition.

–IANS

cg/vd