Thane: A 42-year-old contract worker engaged by the Thane Municipal Corporation’s tree authority was killed while clearing a fallen tree in Balkum on Thursday evening, marking the second tree-related death in the past month. The accident occurred around 4.45 pm at Gautam Nagar, Pada No 3, where a tamarind tree crashed onto a chawl.The deceased, identified as Balaji Dongre, employed by the tree authority contractor, was removing the debris along with the Fire Brigade team while standing on the chawl’s tin roof when it suddenly caved in. Dongre fell from a height of roughly 12 feet and was crushed moments later after a section of the tree trunk that he recently chopped and kept on the roof slid and fell on him, resulting in him suffering fatal injuries.“He was rushed to hospital, where he was declared dead,” said senior inspector Manjusha Bhongale of Kapurbawdi police station. “We have registered an accidental death report.”Shiv Sena leader and former Leader of the House Hanmant Jagdale, who visited the spot, said Dongre was a native of Latur and lived with his brother in Waghbil. “His last rites will be held in his native village. I have spoken to deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde and the municipal commissioner, and financial assistance will be extended to the family,” Jagdale said.The incident comes amid a spate of tree-related accidents in Thane. In the past month, plumber Pandurang Bhuvad died and three others were injured in separate tree or branch fall incidents.Meanwhile, activists pointed out how despite Shinde reviewing functioning and ordering corrective measures in the tree authority, including the transfer of an official, little has changed on the ground. Around 40 incidents of trees and branches collapsing were reported in Thane in the last 24 hours following 99 mm of rainfall on Thursday.
