18 July,2011 07:05 AM IST | | Team MiD DAY
A falling tree in Nariman Point claimed two lives and damaged 10 luxury cars; BMC announced Rs 1 lakh compensation for the deceased
A 6-month-old and his mother (25) were squashed to death and several luxury automobiles were damaged after a 100-year-old tree came crashing down last night in Nariman Point. Around 8.45 pm, the giant leafy tree fell on 10 cars parked outside the CR2 mall.
Dhiren Tolani was trapped with his wife and two kids
in this car, but they were rescued by the fire brigade
Both, the infant, Arvi Bhansali, and the mother, Manisha, were rushed to St George hospital, where they were declared dead on arrival. Arvi had sustained a skull injury and chest compression causing him to die on the spot.u00a0
Their postmortem reports would be out today. Dr AP Choudhari, medical superintendent, GT hospital, said, "The infant was brought dead to the hospital."
The mother-son duo was in one of the cars that were trapped under the tree. The civic authority has announced a financial compensation of Rs 1 lakh for the two deceased, but the owners of damaged vehicles are not entitled to any compensation, a BMC official said.
Dhiren Tolani, an Altamount Road resident, who had gone to CR2 Mall for dinner, narrowly escaped death. His red Chevrolet was among he ones that got mashed by the tree.
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"I was inside the car with my wife and two kids when the tree came down on us. We were trapped and had lost all hope. But then, right in time, the Fire Brigade and Mumbai police came to our rescue."
An official from Marine Drive police station said right after the episode, "Two people, including an infant, were seriously injured in the accident. They were rushed to GT Hospital and Bombay Hospital."
BMC speaks
Mayor Shraddha Jadhav said that the BMC would discuss the incident in a meeting on Monday.
Nirajan Shetty, a member of the BMC's Tree Authority, said, "This is not the first time a falling tree has claimed lives. We are calling an urgent meeting to discuss the same." Last year, the city witnessed six deaths caused by trees falling abruptly.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Mohan Adtani said, "The trees have been cut. The trimming operation is going on. As for the accident, the compensation would be given by the collector."
He added, "The fire brigade and the officials concerned are doing their job on the spot. This was the second incident of this monsoon."
