Mumbai: A day after the BMC’s inquiry report into the Chembur tree crash absolved its garden and roads department officials of any wrongdoing, the family of 11-year-old Vihaan Srivastava, who was killed in the June 30 incident, said the report had dealt them a “grave injustice” and added they may explore legal action against those responsible.The inquiry report did not fix responsibility on any civic official and also added that the contractor can’t be made solely responsible. Vihaan’s grandfather, Prem Gaur, said the findings had left the family deeply disappointed. “If the tree had been removed or appropriate action taken in time, our grandson would have been with us today. When the tree fell, it was obvious that its roots had been severely damaged. Had proper precautions been taken and pre-monsoon inspections carried out sincerely, this tragedy could have been avoided,” he said.Calling the report inadequate, another relative of the Srivastava family said responsibility should extend beyond the contractor and consultant who have been penalised. “Civic officials who failed in their duty must also be held accountable and punished. Fixing a monetary penalty on private agencies alone is not justice.”Another relative, Sant Khare, said the family was seriously considering legal proceedings. “We will definitely explore our legal options. We will also seek compensation, but no amount of money can ever replace a child or put a value on his life,” he said.Khare added that if compensation is awarded, the family intends to use it in Vihaan’s memory for a meaningful public cause. “The compensation is not for us. It will never bring Vihaan back. If we receive it, we want to use it in his name for something that benefits society.”The family’s response comes amid growing criticism of the BMC inquiry, with several experts and even governing party leaders questioning why civic officials were let off despite the report acknowledging that excavation work had damaged the tree’s root system before it collapsed onto a school bus, killing Vihaan and injuring several other children.
