Mumbai rain, wind uproot 199 trees in four days

Mumbai city news: The figure is massive considering BMC had trimmed around 60,000 trees before the monsoon set in.

Heavy rain and gusty winds uprooted 199 trees in the city since Sunday. According to data from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), most tree-fall complaints were recorded in the western suburbs where 87 trees and branches fell down. Also, 58 trees were uprooted in the eastern suburbs and 54 in the island city.

A wall collapsed after a tree fell on it. (HT photo)

The figure is massive considering BMC had trimmed around 60,000 trees before the monsoon set in. Civic officials said that they prune branches of trees to reduce its weight that makes them fall during the rains.

They also said that most of the tree falling incidents happen during the initial heavy showers. A civic official from the gardens department of BMC said, “The number is generally higher during the first few showers. We are taking all precautionary measures.”

The civic body had earlier issued an advisory to citizens to not stand under trees during heavy rainfall.

Experts said that the BMC carries out the trimming exercise haphazardly and using concrete near the roots of trees make them weak and more likely to get uprooted.

Stalin D, an environment activist said, “Every tree on the road side will collapse in the next three years if the de-concretisation at the roots is not undertaken. Roots of the trees are becoming unable to hold the weight of the trees.” He also said that water logging also loosens the trees’ hold on the soil.