Khar tree collapse: Teen dies week after Khar accident, other passenger remains critical

The autorickshaw driver rushed them to Hinduja Hospital, where Aarika and Harshita spent the last week fighting for their lives in the ICU.

Aarika passed away at 6.05 am on Sunday. A medical officer from P D Hinduja Hospital said, “Despite all efforts made by our medical team to stabilise her condition, she could not be saved and passed away following a brave seven-day battle with her injuries.” Doctors confirmed that Harshita remains in critical condition.

Following the incident, the Khar police registered a case of alleged negligence against Bluestone Properties, the construction company managing the site where the tree collapsed, last Monday. The FIR was filed based on a complaint by Aarilka’s sister, Manasvi.

Senior officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) garden cell stated that a site inspection revealed stones from the construction activity had been stacked at the base of the tree, weakening its roots and triggering the collapse.

Responding to the allegations on Sunday, a spokesperson for Bluestone Properties expressed grief over the loss but claimed the project was being executed in full statutory compliance. The builder suggested that concealed internal decay, including a severe termite infestation, was responsible for the fall, despite no visible external signs of instability.

“Even as our immediate priority remains supporting the family, Bluestone is fully cooperating with authorities and has shared all relevant records to enable an independent and transparent technical assessment. Out of respect for the ongoing process and the sensitivity of this loss, any determination at this stage would be premature,” it said.

“The development project is being executed in full statutory compliance, under rigorous engineering oversight and safety protocols. At this difficult moment, our focus remains on standing by the affected families and ensuring that the matter is assessed objectively, with conclusions guided solely by verified technical findings and expert assessment,” the statement added.

The tragedy has prompted the BMC to launch a first-of-its-kind tree-watering drive this summer. The civic body’s internal probe into recent incidents identified rising summer heat levels and tree ’embolism’, a condition in which air bubbles block water flow in a tree’s vascular system, as major root causes of unexpected tree collapses across the city.

Soon after the incident, the Khar police registered a case against unidentified persons associated with the construction company and are now in the process of invoking Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The offence carries a punishment ranging from up to 10 years’ imprisonment to life imprisonment, depending on the nature of the act.

Police officials said that after being alerted about the incident, officers conducted a panchnama at the spot and initially registered an FIR against the construction firm under Sections 125(b) and 281 of the BNS. Section 125(b) pertains to acts carried out rashly or negligently that endanger human life and result in grievous hurt, while Section 281 relates to rash or negligent conduct endangering public safety.

“No arrests have been made so far and the investigation is underway. We have recorded statements of several people and are examining what may have weakened the tree and led to its collapse, and whether any negligence was involved,” said Senior Inspector Sanjiv Dhumal of Khar police station.