60 students in Thane escape unhurt after branch falls on shed

School authorities blame the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) for not trimming the tree.

Around 60 students of a school at Pokhran Road in Thane escaped without injuries after the branch of a tree fell, breaking an asbestos shed outside a classroom, on Monday morning. Incessant rain and gusty winds are said to have caused the branch collapse.

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The incident took place at Little Flower High School (LFHS), which is a single-storey structure. The school has 4,500 students, around 8am.

School authorities said they had complained to the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) last month as trees in the vicinity were not trimmed.

“The garden department staff had come to trim branches on Monday afternoon. However, they did not have the required equipment and safety guards. They tried to climb the tree but could not because the branches were slippery. Despite repeated complaints, no action was taken. TMC needs to prioritise students’ safety and their workers’ health,” said Kasber Augustine, committee member, LFHS.

Omprakash Divate, deputy municipal commissioner, TMC, said, they act promptly after getting complaints over tree trimming. “We shall verify the complaint and inspect the location.”

“Had the branch fallen a few inches inside, it would have been fatal. If we do not see any precautions, we will protest against the authorities,”said a student’s parent.