64-year-old tree-fall victim dies after three-day fight for life in Thane

Thane: A 64-year-old plumber who suffered severe head injuries after a tree collapsed on him outside the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Thane on Monday died in hospital on Thursday after battling for life for three days

Thane: A 64-year-old plumber who suffered severe head injuries after a tree collapsed on him outside the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Thane on Monday died in hospital on Thursday after battling for life for three days.

The victim, Pandurang Buvad, a resident of Dharmveer Nagar, had remained critical since the incident.

According to the Thane Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC), Buvad was standing near an autorickshaw outside the Thane RTO during heavy rain when he took shelter under a tree that suddenly collapsed. He suffered serious head injuries and was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent brain surgery.

Local councillor Minal Sankhe, who helped shift him to hospital, said doctors had found a blood clot in his brain during surgery. “Doctors had initially said that Buvad was critical and needed to be monitored for at least 48 hours. However, his condition did not improve, and he died on Thursday morning,” said Sankhe.

An accidental death report has been registered, Ashok Utekar, senior inspector of Wagle Estate police station said.

Among the injured is 25-year-old Drushti Kadam, who suffered severe spinal injuries after a tree fell on her while she was returning home from work on Tuesday evening. Kadam, a resident of Shivaji Nagar in Wagle Estate, works in the accounts department of a private firm in Savarkar Nagar.

Her relatives said she has lost sensation below her waist and underwent spinal surgery on Tuesday night. She remains in critical condition at a private hospital.

Following the recent spate of tree-fall incidents, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday directed the Thane Municipal Corporation to conduct a comprehensive audit of trees across the city and take preventive measures. He also instructed the civic body to bear the medical expenses of the injured victims.