Archive · 30 Jul 2026
BMC Appoints Independent Committee to Re‑investigate Chembur Tree Collapse
A big tree fell on a school bus in Chembur, Mumbai, killing a boy named Vihan and hurting four other kids.
The city’s mayor said the first investigation didn’t look hard enough, so the city set up a new team of experts to check what really happened.
The team is led by a famous botanist, Dr Sanjay Deshmukh, and will finish its report in a month.
They will re‑examine the evidence, see if the city’s departments did their job, and suggest new rules to keep trees safe.
The city also suspended three officials after the accident.
BMC formed a three‑member expert committee to re‑investigate the Chembur tree collapse that killed 11‑year‑old Vihan Shrivastav.
The committee, chaired by botanist and former Mumbai University vice‑chancellor Dr Sanjay V. Deshmukh, must submit its findings within one month.
The move follows Mayor Ritu Tawde’s rejection of the earlier two‑member inquiry report, which cleared the Roads and Gardens departments of responsibility.
The new panel will review the original methodology, re‑examine evidence, and recommend policy reforms to prevent future tree‑fall incidents.
Three BMC officials were suspended after the incident, and the committee will assess whether interim measures were adequate.
- Who
- Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Dr Sanjay V. Deshmukh, Mayor Ritu Tawde
- What
- Re‑investigation of the Chembur tree collapse that killed a child
- When
- Incident: June 30, 2026; Committee appointed: July 30, 2026
- Where
- Chembur, Mumbai, India
- Why
- Earlier inquiry deemed inadequate and failed to hold responsible parties accountable
- Incident date
- June 30, 2026
- Victim
- 11‑year‑old Vihan Shrivastav
- Committee chair
- Dr Sanjay V. Deshmukh
- Report deadline
- Within one month
- Municipal body
- Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)
