Mumbai: An 11-year-old student was killed, and four others were injured after a roadside tree collapsed onto a school bus carrying children in Mumbai's Chembur area on Tuesday afternoon, officials said. The incident has raised concerns over civic maintenance and the safety of school transport.
The incident occurred at 2.58 pm near a building on Road No. 11 when a Peepal tree suddenly collapsed onto the school bus, officials said.
Fire Brigade personnel and other emergency agencies rushed to the spot and rescued all 12 students on board, including two who were trapped inside the bus.
Five injured students were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment, a civic official said.
According to the hospital's medical officer, four of the injured students are in stable condition, while 11-year-old Vihan Srivastava, who sustained critical injuries, was declared dead at around 4.30 pm.
The bus was ferrying students of Universal High School, officials said.
The School Bus Owners' Association (SBOA), however, claimed that 11 students were injured in the incident.
"This incident cannot simply be brushed aside as an unfortunate act of nature. It raises serious questions about civic preparedness, preventive maintenance, and the accountability of the authorities responsible for public safety," said Anil Garg, president of the SBOA.