Cyclone Tauktae destroyed 812 trees, most exotic species in Mumbai

An uprooted tree on MB Raut Road in Shivaji Park on Tuesday. Pic/Ashish Raje

Mumbai lost 812 trees in three days due to Cyclone Tauktae that raised wind speed to 114 km per hour at one point. As per the BMC, the weather phenomenon also snapped 1,454 tree branches.

Of the trees uprooted in the city, 504 were on private premises. About 70 per cent of the trees felled by Tauktae were exotic species like Peltoforum, Gulmohar, Thespesia, Rain-Tree, Royal Palm (Natural Palm), said the civic body. BMC officials said it has been reiterated that only local species should be planted in the city.

There were 249 trees that fell in the island city, 256 trees in the eastern suburbs and 307 in the western suburbs. M west ward, which covers Chembur, lost 84 trees, the most in Mumbai, to the cyclone. Officials said 545 trees fell on May 16 and May 17, while 267 fell on the next day.

Also Read: Cyclone Tauktae: More than 100 trees fall in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, over 50 in Aarey colony

Of the branches that broke, 798 were on private premises and 666 were in public areas.

When Cyclone Nisarga had hit the west coast last year, 323 trees had fallen between June 3 and June 6. Of these, 221 were on private land. That time too, exotic species had borne the maximum brunt.

The policy about which trees should be planted is likely to be revisited and accordingly the selection of trees as per local conditions will be considered, said officials. Also, a Tree Audit will be done regularly, garden department officials said.