Locals claim they are not getting any help; BMC says the number of tree/branch falling incidents is unprecedented and it’ll need a few more days to attend to all complaints
A huge tree completely smashed a taxi and damaged seven other cars, at Walkeshwar. Pic/Bipin Kokate
More than 3,000 trees or big branches fell across the city in two days due to the strong winds brought along by cyclone Tauktae, damaging several houses and blocking roads.
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The fallen trees or branches at several houses/residential buildings and roads have not been cleared yet, as the administration is unable to attend to a large number of complaints. Besides, the BMC helpline number received 9,817 calls during the day on Tuesday, including complaints of 56 waterlogging spots, 43 house collapse and 39 short circuit incidents.
The BMC prioritised removing the fallen trees/branches on roads to clear traffic, yet several roads and private premises remained blocked as the work was going on till late evening on Tuesday.
Abhijeet Sawant, corporator from Andheri East said, “In my ward, 35 trees have fallen and not all can be removed immediately. And eight of them fell on houses. Though the trees on the roads were removed, the ward office sent only two men with one sickle to remove a big tree on a house. Trees that have fallen on houses need to be removed soon to avoid any loss of life and further damage to property. I will be staying at the ward office till all the fallen trees are removed.”
Also Read: Cyclone Tauktae: Armed with chain saws, Mumbai cops pitch in to clear trees
Many housing societies are waiting for fallen trees to be removed from their compound. “A tree fell on our building. We enquired with the BMC and private contractors, but no one is available,” said a resident of Indravadan Society in Dadar. “The number of trees that collapsed is unprecedented and we are trying our best to attend to all the complaints. But it will take a few more days to clear all the fallen trees and branches,” said a ward official with the Garden Department.
A tree falls on a house in Andheri East; a tree uproots and lands on a building at Indravadan Society in Dadar. Pic/Sanjay Patwardhan
Two people are missing after falling into the sea. One of them went missing after an anchored boat crashed near Madh, and the other has not been found since a boat ventured into the sea near Mahim.
The western suburbs, from Dahisar to Goregaon, received maximum rainfall. Borivli received the highest rainfall at 320 mm, followed by Kandivli at 315 mm, in 24 hours till 8 am on Tuesday. Malad, along with Colaba, reported over 100 km per hour wind speed.
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No of trees that have fallen on houses in K East ward
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