Aarika Srivastava, 15, Dies After Tree Collapses on Auto-Rickshaw in Khar
A 15-year-old girl died and two other teenagers were injured after a weak-rooted tree collapsed onto their auto-rickshaw in Khar on May 10, 2026. Aarika Srivastava, a resident of Malad East, had met her sister Manasvi and their friend Harshita in neighboring Bandra before the group took an auto-rickshaw to Khar for lunch, where the tragic accident occurred.
The incident took place when a tree situated inside the compound of an under-construction building came crashing down onto the three-wheeled vehicle. The impact caused severe injuries to the passengers. Aarika and Harshita, 21, suffered severe head trauma, including skull fractures, and immediately lost consciousness. The auto-rickshaw driver rushed the injured teenagers to Hinduja Hospital, where both Aarika and Harshita were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Manasvi suffered a fracture in her leg.
Aarika succumbed to her injuries on May 17, 2026, just two days after celebrating her 15th birthday. Her uncle, S K Srivastava, recalled that she was a bright student who had just graduated to the tenth standard. She aspired to become an engineer and had recently enrolled at a coaching centre for competitive examinations.
Meanwhile, Harshita is still recovering from her injuries. According to her father, Harish Kumar, she was later shifted from Hinduja Hospital to Kokilaben Hospital to undergo advanced neuro-physiotherapy.
A subsequent inspection by the civic garden cell of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) revealed that the tree's roots had been severely compromised. Senior BMC officials stated that during their inspection, they found that stones from the under-construction site had been stacked directly at the base of the tree, weakening its root system.
Furthermore, the civic body's internal probe linked the rising cases of tree collapses in the city to intense heat levels. Officials explained that extreme heat can cause 'tree embolism,' a condition where air bubbles block the flow within the tree's vascular system, leading to structural failure.
