Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 30 (ANI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sunetra Pawar on Tuesday expressed grief over the death of an 11-year-old student after a roadside tree fell on a school bus in Mumbai's Chembur area, calling the incident "heartbreaking and soul-stirring."
In a post shared on X, Pawar paid a "heartfelt tribute" to the deceased child and wished a speedy recovery for the injured students.
"The incident in Chembur, where a tree fell on a school bus during heavy rains, resulting in the loss of a young student's life, is extremely heartbreaking and soul-stirring. I offer my heartfelt tribute to the little one who succumbed in this accident. I extend my condolences to their family. May the injured students recover swiftly--this is my prayer," she said.
https://x.com/parthajitpawar/status/2071947146740600960
Reacting to the incident, Maharashtra Minister of State Meghna Sakore Bordikar said the exact cause of the incident would be ascertained through a detailed investigation.
"We should find out the cause of the incident. It could be a natural incident because a tree collapsed on its own... Only a proper investigation will let us know who the culprit is, but we will take steps to ensure that such an incident does not occur again," she said.
"This is a huge incident because if children are unsafe like this or get injured like this, then this will be investigated and measures will be taken to ensure that this does not happen again," she added.
BJP MLC Prasad Lad also assured strict action if any negligence was found during the investigation.
"If a child has died, it is very heart-rending. BMC will be ordered to carry out an investigation. I will speak with the Mumbai Mayor. We will gather detailed information. Action will be taken against the culprits. All efforts will be made to provide the best medical treatment to children with critical injuries," Lad said.
He added that discussions would be held with "Mumbai City's Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde and Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister Ashish Shelar" to ascertain the reasons behind the incident and ensure the harshest possible action against those responsible.
Furthermore, Mumbai Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi termed the incident "heart-wrenching" and said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) would initiate action against those found responsible.
"Just a few hours ago, an old tree fell onto a private school bus on Road Number 11 in the Chembur area, leaving ten people injured. It has been reported that an eleven-year-old boy has died, while the other children have been taken to nearby hospitals. This is a truly heart-wrenching incident; the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will take action against those found responsible," he said.
Meanwhile, Congress MLA Nana Patole blamed the BJP-led Mahayuti government, alleging inadequate pre-monsoon preparedness.
"In Mumbai, you need to make preparations for pre-monsoon. But it wasn't done. Mumbai was inundated in the first rainfall itself. Similarly, the incident which occurred today is due to the sins of the BJP-Mahayuti government. The government is least bothered about all of this...They just want power and loot," Patole alleged.
Earlier in the day, an 11-year-old student died, and four others were injured after a roadside Pimple tree uprooted and fell on a school bus carrying students of Universal High School near Heritage Pride on Road No. 11 in Chembur.
According to the BMC's Mumbai Fire Brigade, the incident was reported at around 2:58 pm. The bus conductor and local residents rescued all 12 children travelling on the bus. Five students, including the critically injured Vihan Shrivastav (11), were shifted to Zen Hospital, where doctors declared him dead at 4:23 pm. The condition of the remaining four injured students is stated to be stable.
Separately, commenting on Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Sachin Ahir joining the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Patole said, "I think they have formed this mindset to break democracy. We do not want to discuss what kind of work Mahayuti is doing."
His remarks came after Ahir joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and filed his nomination for the post of Deputy Chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
On the alleged house arrest of Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai, Patole alleged, "Chor ki daadhi mein tinka. Modi and Yogi, the BJP and RSS have looted Ram Mandir, and they are doing this to cover up their sins."
Patole's remarks came after Ajay Rai alleged that he and other Congress leaders were forcibly detained by police late on Monday night to prevent them from visiting the Ram Mandir amid the political controversy over alleged embezzlement of temple donations. (ANI)
