Tree fall victims’ families seek ₹10L compensation

THANE: The family members of the two persons, including an auto rickshaw driver who died after a tree fell on them late on Wednesday night, refused to accept the body of their loved ones from the Thane Civil Hospital on Thursday morning.

They demanded a compensation of ₹10 lakh, blaming the Thane Municipal Corporation’s tree authority for being negligent.

At around 10pm on Wednesday, a huge tree fell on an auto driven by Arvind Rajbhar, 28. Rajbhar and a commuter, Chandrakant Patil, 57, died on the spot. The incident took place near Masunda Lake.

The auto was completely crushed under the tree. The two could not be identified till late at night. On Thursday morning, the police traced the auto driver.

“The auto rickshaw was heading from Wagle Estate to Thane railway station. It was going to drop the passenger at the station,” said the official.

The family was accompanied by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers, who joined the protest near the Thane Civil Hospital. The family took the body by afternoon. However, they claimed that they will follow up the issue.

A relative of Rajbhar who did not wish to be named said, “Arvind used to not leave the house during Covid. However, recently he began driving the auto again as the family depended on him. With him gone, there is no one to support the family.”

Sanjay Wagule, a BJP corporator, said, “This is the fifth such incident in the recent years. We regularly raised issues on trimming of trees, but it is neglected.”

Sandeep Malvi, TMC deputy civic chief did not answer phone calls or messages.

PRAFUL GANGURDE/HT Officials inspect the auto rickshaw that was crushed by a tree near Masunda Lake, Thane, on Wednesday night.