Pune: 76-Year-Old Woman Dies After Tree Falls on Rickshaw

In a tragic incident on Wednesday afternoon, a 76-year-old woman lost her life after a tree collapsed onto a moving rickshaw in the Peshwe Udyan area of Pune.

The deceased, Shubhada Yashwant Sapre, a resident of Anandnagar on Sinhagad Road, was en route to visit her relatives when the mishap occurred. A Gulmohar tree suddenly fell on the rickshaw near Nilayam Cinema, leaving her critically injured. She was immediately rushed to a private hospital by local citizens and the fire brigade but succumbed to her injuries during treatment.

The rickshaw driver, Sanjay Avchare, sustained minor injuries and was discharged after receiving medical care. Emergency responders, including fire brigade personnel and concerned citizens, acted swiftly to provide assistance at the scene.

The Dattawadi Police have registered a case of accidental death and are currently conducting further investigations into the incident.

Over 200 Tree Fall Incidents in May Alone

This unfortunate event adds to a growing list of tree fall incidents in Pune. So far in May, over 200 cases of trees toppling have been reported across the city, raising serious concerns about the maintenance and structural assessment practices of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

In previous years, similar fatal incidents have been recorded in areas such as Karvenagar, Omkareshwar, Bibvewadi, and Ghole Road. In some of those cases, citizens had demanded legal action against Parks Department officials, and FIRs were registered.

The recurring nature of such incidents has sparked widespread public outcry and renewed calls for urgent attention to urban tree management and safety audits by civic authorities.