11-year-old boy killed after tree collapses onto school bus in Chembur
An 11-year-old boy was killed on Tuesday when a roadside tree collapsed onto his school bus near the Heritage Pride building on Road No. 11 in Chembur, Mumbai. The victim, Vihan Shrivastav, was trapped inside the vehicle along with 11 other children after the tree unexpectedly toppled.
The school bus had initially departed with 14 students on board. Two children had already been dropped off at their designated stops before the accident occurred. The bus had stopped to drop off another student when the tree fell, striking the middle of the vehicle.
Local residents, emergency responders, and the bus conductor quickly coordinated to rescue the trapped children. Mahendra Patil, a local resident who assisted at the scene, said a large branch had crashed through the middle of the bus, making it difficult for the students seated at the back to escape. Rescuers broke the windows of the bus to safely evacuate the frightened children.
According to Hospital Director Dr. Roy Patankar, two of the injured children underwent CT scans and are currently receiving treatment, while two other children were examined and declared stable.
The tragedy has left Vihan’s family and neighbors in deep shock. Neighbor and family friend Raji Malhotra described Vihan as a bright, disciplined child who dreamed of becoming a professional cricketer. Vihan's mother, Juhi Shrivastav, was left devastated by the loss of her son. Darshika Mehta, Vihan's teacher, also remembered him as an intelligent and energetic student who participated in the school's sports teams.
Following the incident, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde visited the site and directed officials to conduct a detailed inquiry. Although authorities reported that trees on the road had been pruned ahead of the monsoon season, the investigation will examine whether recent road concreting work in the area compromised the tree's stability. Tawde stated that appropriate action would be taken if any lapses or negligence are identified.
