Mumbai woman killed in tree fall: She was going to visit pregnant daughter

The 57-year-old was returning home from her yoga classes in Mumbai when the tree fell on her

A day after 57-year-old yoga teacher and former Doordarshan anchor Kanchan Nath lost her life after a tree fell on her in Chembur, her husband accused the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) of criminal negligence and said he will take legal action against civic body.

The woman’s husband said it would give the family some peace if the BMC accepted responsibility for this accident. (HT)

“In February this year, the owner of the plot had approached the BMC to cut the tree. The civic body inspected and decided on pruning some of the branches of the dead tree instead of cutting it. The owner even paid for the pruning. If only the BMC had paid heed to the application and cut the dead tree, I would have not lost my wife,” Rajat Nath, Kanchan’s husband told HT.

A resident of Nath’s building, on condition of anonymity, said following Kanchan’s death, the BMC had taken up tree pruning exercise on war footing in the area. But two days after the tree fall, no BMC official had visited the area.

Kanchan lost her life early on Saturday morning, after being in a coma for two days.

She is survived by her husband and two children, a daughter and a son.

Locals said several complaints were made to BMC about dangerous and dead trees in the neighbourhood.

Read: 57-year-old yoga teacher dies in Mumbai after tree falls on her head

“My wife was going to visit her daughter in Bangalore, who is nine-months pregnant, to take care of her,’’ said Rajat Nath, grappling with the sudden loss.

He said it will give the family some peace if the BMC accepts responsibility for this accident.The grieving husband said he wants the BMC to also undertake a drive to cut and prune all the dangerous trees in the city so that “no more innocent lives are lost”.

He told HT on the phone, “The person responsible for this negligence should be penalised. I want to take action against the BMC for this act through proper channels.’’

A resident of Nath’s building, on condition of anonymity, said following the incident, the BMC had taken up tree pruning exercise on war footing in the area.

“It was a tragic accident and if there is negligence on part of any BMC official, action will be taken against them,” said Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, Mayor, Mumbai.

“Following the incident on Thursday, I raised the issue of dangerous and dead trees in the area with the ward officer. Lots of money is spent on pruning of the trees, but there is no accountability. I will raise the issue again in the general body meeting,” said local BJP corporator, Asha Marathe.