BMC ward official clueless about latest tree-fall case

The civic body remains foggy about the incident that has left Anne Fernandes (36) so severely injured that she is on the ventilator, despite reports about how a tree branch crushed her while she was walking on a public road in Kalina.

The civic body remains foggy about the incident that has left Anne Fernandes (36) so severely injured that she is on the ventilator, despite reports about how a tree branch crushed her while she was walking on a public road in Kalina.

HT Image

On Sunday, the day the report was published in HT, Anand Waghralkar, ward officer of the H-east ward, under whose jurisdiction Kalina falls, said he was only vaguely aware of what happened. “I don’t know the details. I have no idea if the tree had been pruned. The Deputy Superintendent of Gardens (DSG) has assured me that an inquiry will be conducted,” he said.

However, local corporator Alice Theratil said Waghralkar had visited the spot after the incident took place on September 27.

“On my insistence, he himself came to the spot. How can he say he has no details? I have requested the BMC to hurry up and issue the family compensation,” she said.

Kamlashankar Yadav, DSG, western suburbs, said he had not been informed of the incident officially. “I was not aware before I read the newspaper reports,” he said. “I am unaware of an inquiry. I will ask my officers to get details on Monday and submit a report.”

Aseem Gupta, additional municipal commissioner, was unavailable for comment.