India, July 1 -- At 2:58pm on Tuesday, 11-year-old Vihan Shrivastav's laugher fell silent forever, leaving his family, friends and neighbours in shock after a tree crashed onto his school bus in Chembur.

At Kukreja Residency in Chembur, where Vihan lived with his parents, many gathered as news of the tragedy spread. Vihan, a Class 6 student of Universal High School, was among 13 children on the bus when a large peepal tree toppled and fell on the vehicle. The bus had stopped on Road No 11 near Heritage Pride building to drop a student when the accident took place.

The bus conductor and locals began rescuing the children trapped inside until firefighters arrived. Five students were taken to Zen Hospital in Chembur. While doctors pronounc...