Chembur family demands justice after 11-year-old Vihaan Srivastava dies in tree collapse

The family and neighbors of 11-year-old Vihaan Srivastava have demanded a thorough investigation and criminal action against negligent officials following the boy's death in a tree collapse incident in Chembur, Mumbai. During his funeral, relatives and local residents accused authorities of ignoring prior warnings about the precarious condition of the tree.

Vihaan, who was the only child of his parents, was remembered as a cheerful, bright, and affectionate child whose untimely death has devastated his family and the local community. To honor his deep love for cricket, his family placed his cricket ball on his funeral pyre as a final tribute during the cremation.

The victim's grandfather, SN Srivastava, alleged that the tragedy was the direct result of negligence and could have been avoided. He stated that residents had previously raised concerns about the weak tree but no action was taken by the authorities.

"This is negligence. The tree was in a precarious condition and should have been removed. Residents had raised concerns earlier. Why was no action taken?" SN Srivastava said. He added that the family is considering filing a formal complaint to ensure those responsible are punished.

Another relative, Anil Kumar Srivastava, questioned how authorities manage potentially hazardous trees and stressed the need for timely intervention. He pointed out that funds are allocated for such work and questioned whether they are being properly utilized. He called for regular maintenance and pruning of trees to prevent similar tragedies.

Neighbors who gathered to pay their last respects said the incident has shaken the entire locality. One resident confirmed that concerns about the condition of the tree had been raised repeatedly before the accident occurred.

Relatives also recalled Vihaan's affectionate and inquisitive nature, sharing that he loved food and would often ask family members what they had eaten.