Branch kills 90-year-old woman

Residents said the branch had grown out of the temple compound and had not been trimmed. .

Residents said the branch had grown out of the temple compound and had not been trimmed. .  

Sukhi Lila sustains fatal injuries when tree branch collapses on her head

A 90-year-old woman died after a branch of a tree fell on her in Walkeshwar on Monday evening.

According to the Malabar Hill police, the incident took place at around 6.30 p.m. in Banganga where the deceased, Sukhi Lila, lived.

The retired tuition teacher stayed with her sister, Mahalaxmi Nayak.

Lila's neice, Geeta Magwani, said her aunt used to go for a walk near her residence every evening. “As per her daily routine, she went for a walk near a temple in the area with her sister on Monday evening. On her way back, she told Ms. Nayak to carry on, as she wanted to sit near the temple for some time.” Lila was sitting on a bench close to the temple when the branch, which was overhead, snapped and fell on her, injuring her nose, left hand and left leg. She was taken to GT Hospital near Crawford Market where she was declared dead before admission, officials said.

Residents of the area said the tree is inside the temple premises, and that the branch had grown out of the compound and not been trimmed.

“Lilaji was a very friendly and sweet lady. She would always wave to me and talked to everyone in the evening. She was full of life and didn’t look her age. I still can’t believe she is no more. Iit’s a very sad moment for us,” said Noorjahan Mistri, who runs a beauty parlour in the Banganga area.

The Malabar Hill police have registered an Accidental Death Report in connection with the incident.