A BMC inquiry committee has cleared the garden and roads departments in the Chembur tree collapse that killed 11-year-old Vihan Shrivastav. The panel found contractors responsible for inadequate precautions and proposed fines of ₹5 lakh for Gawar Construction Limited and ₹2 lakh for Mahimtura Consultant. The committee also suggested 25 safety measures to prevent future incidents.

Mumbai: In its investigation report of the Chembur tree collapse incident, which killed 11-year old Vihan Shrivastav, the commitee has acquitted garden department official and road engineers, finding that there is no evidence of any fault on the part of the garden department and roads department in the mishap. The probe commitee concluded that the contractors appointed for tree safety and road maintenance/supervision failed to take sufficient precautions and should be fined Rs 5 and Rs 2 lakh, respectively.

The two member committee, consisting of deputy municipal commissioners Purshottam Malwade and Shahank Bhore, formed in the aftermath of the tree collapse mishap, also stated 25 measures to be taken to prevent such incidents in future and three recommendations.

It was on June 30, that a 60-year old roadside Peepal tree uprooted and crashed on a bus of Universal High School on Road number 11, Chembur East, carrying 13 children. One student lost his life in the mishap, while four others sustained injuries.

Following the uproar after the unfortunate incident, municipal commissioner Ashwini Bhide suspended M-West ward (Chembur) assistant superintendent of gardens Jagdish Bhoir, sub-engineer of roads Arun Munde and assistant engineer of roads Yogesh Parte, for prima facie negligence. The investigation committee formed in the aftermath was directed to submit its report within eight days, which ended last Wednesday.