A 14-year-old girl, Aarika Sumit Srivastava, who was critically injured in a tree crash incident on May 10, was declared dead on Sunday morning, according to doctors at P D Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai. The other injured girl, Harshita Kumar, who was traveling with her in the same autorickshaw, remains in critical condition and is admitted to the intensive care unit of the same hospital.
Brain Death Declaration and Family's Hope
Earlier this week, on Thursday, Srivastava had been declared brain dead following an apnea test. However, a second confirmatory test, which is required under medical protocol, was delayed as the family remained hopeful that their daughter would survive. Doctors permitted the delay in conducting the test, respecting the family's wishes.
“Having met with the tragic accident on Sunday and valiantly fighting for a week, Aarika Srivastava, daughter of Binal and Sumit Srivastava, could not survive against God’s wish,” a message issued by the family stated. Her funeral was conducted on Sunday morning.
Developer's Statement on Tree Crash
A spokesperson from Bluestone, the developer from whose premise in Khar the tree crashed, expressed condolences and commitment to supporting the affected family. “During this extraordinarily difficult time, Bluestone remains fully committed to standing beside the affected family, extending every possible support, as and when required, with the utmost care, sensitivity and dignity as they navigate this painful loss,” the spokesperson said.
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. Preliminary observations indicate concealed internal decay within the tree, including severe termite infestation, despite no visible external signs of instability. 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.
About the Author
Richa Pinto is a special correspondent with The Times of India, covering urban governance and climate change issues. With over a decade of experience in field reporting, she has written extensively on various civic issues affecting Mumbaikars. She graduated in journalism from the prestigious Mumbai-based St Xavier's College and later pursued a three-year Law degree (L.L.B.) with the University of Mumbai.
