'Tree Falling Isn't In Anyone's Control': Minister's Remark On Mumbai Schoolboy Death Sparks Row
'Tree Falling Isn't In Anyone's Control': Minister's Remark On Mumbai Schoolboy Death Sparks Row Published By, Last Updated: July 01, 2026, 16:38 IST Maharashtra Minister
'Tree Falling Isn't In Anyone's Control': Minister's Remark On Mumbai Schoolboy Death Sparks Row Published By, Last Updated: July 01, 2026, 16:38 IST Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat calls fatal Mumbai tree fall a natural event, sparking opposition outrage as BMC probe links nearby construction to the collapse. 11-year-old Vihan Srivastava sustained critical injuries and later died during treatment. (Photos: X/PTI) Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat on Wednesday sparked a political row with his remarks on the death of an 11-year-old boy who was killed after a roadside peepal tree fell on a school bus in Mumbai’s Chembur area. The comments drew sharp criticism from the opposition, which accused the government of attempting to deflect responsibility over the tragedy. Speaking to NDTV, Shirsat, the state’s Minister for Social Justice and a leader of Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, initially said the government would make a statement in the Assembly and had directed the civic body to ensure such incidents do not recur. “Everyone is aware of the incident that took place yesterday.
The government is set to make a statement regarding it in the House today, and instructions have also been issued to the corporation to ensure such incidents do not occur," he told. ‘Natural for trees to fall’ When questioned over the opposition’s allegation that the government’s claims of completing pre-monsoon preparations had been exposed by the incident, the minister made the remarks that triggered the controversy. “A tree falling or lightning striking isn’t in anyone’s control. No one knows beforehand that a particular tree is about to fall," Shirsat said. Pressed further over residents’ claims that tree audits had not been carried out properly, he defended the civic administration. “No, that doesn’t happen. The work continues. It’s natural for trees to fall. Sometimes, there’s a strong wind and it falls," he said. Schoolboy Killed After Tree Fell On Bus The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when a reportedly 70-year-old roadside peepal tree was uprooted and crashed onto a school bus carrying 13 students of Universal High School in Chembur.
11-year-old Vihan Srivastava sustained critical injuries and later died during treatment. Four other students, aged between four and 12, were injured but are reported to be out of danger. Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident. The probe will examine whether recent cement concreting and drain works around the tree weakened its roots and whether complaints had been received from local residents. A senior Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said preliminary findings suggest recent construction work may have damaged the tree’s roots, causing it to collapse despite pre-monsoon pruning. Opposition Condemns Shirsat’s Remarks Reacting sharply, Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) spokesperson Clyde Castro called Shirsat’s remarks “shameful" and “insensitive". “This is an absolute insensitive and shameless statement by this Minister. I mean they have no shame: a child has lost his life and they are making a statement like this that it is a natural process of a tree falling. How shameless can anybody get?" Castro said. He also questioned the BMC’s preparedness before the monsoon, alleging that proper tree audits had not been carried out and accusing the civic administration of passing the blame instead of fixing accountability.
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