Two Injured in Worli as Severe Monsoon Winds Cause 523 Tree Falls Across Mumbai
Two men were injured in Worli’s BDD Chawl area on Sunday evening after a large tree branch collapsed on them, amid unprecedented monsoon winds and heavy rainfall that triggered 523 tree fall incidents across Mumbai in a single 24-hour period. The injured residents, Rajendra Chavan, 54, and Jagannath Sorte, 63, were among multiple casualties reported across the city as wind speeds reached up to 78 kmph.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), average wind speeds between Sunday and Monday ranged between 72 kmph and 78 kmph. This is nearly three times the city’s normal monsoon wind speed of 20 to 30 kmph. IMD Mumbai scientist Sushma Nair stated that an active, intense monsoon depression caused the spike in wind speeds, adding that the system was expected to remain active for another 24 hours before weakening.
The extreme weather caused widespread destruction and casualties. In addition to the Worli incident, seven people were injured in Jogeshwari when a tree fell on a residential building, and a 28-year-old man was injured in Goregaon West when a tree crashed onto his autorickshaw. Fatalities were also reported, including 63-year-old Yunus Kundawala, who died in Kurla on Sunday after a branch fell on him.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reviewed the situation at the State Emergency Operations Centre and urged citizens to stay indoors. Fadnavis noted that Mumbai had recorded its entire monthly quota of rainfall within just four days, alongside gusty winds exceeding 75 kmph that led to the uprooting of trees.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported that of the 523 tree falls recorded in 24 hours, 188 occurred in the western suburbs, 185 in the island city, and 150 in the eastern suburbs. The IMD recorded peak wind speeds of 77 kmph in the western suburbs, 75 kmph in the eastern suburbs, and 72 kmph in the island city. This followed a steady build-up of wind speeds, which had remained between 50 kmph and 60 kmph since July 1.
The high volume of tree falls has overwhelmed civic resources. A senior official from the BMC’s Tree Authority stated that ward offices received more than 20 tree fall complaints every hour. Officials explained that clearing mature trees requires cutting them branch by branch, which disrupts traffic and slows down response times.
