203 tree collapse incidents in Mumbai: Concretization, bad pruning lead to deaths

An India Today report examines the rising number of tree collapses in Mumbai during the monsoon, with 203 incidents and three fatalities reported so far. Arboriculture experts explain that rampant road concretization stops moisture and nutrients from reaching roots, leading to decay and suffocation. Furthermore, unscientific pruning practices cause canopy imbalance and long-term defects. Trees on private construction sites also often lack proper root protection during excavation. Currently, a pilot study for the local civic body is assessing 5,000 trees using LiDAR and artificial intelligence technology to determine their health and safety conditions. Despite the availability of modern technology, the report highlights that bureaucratic lethargy and a lack of political will have delayed comprehensive city-wide tree surveys, as the last official survey was conducted in 2008. Unplanned urbanization continues to fuel a tree emergency in the city, putting civilian lives at risk.