Kolkata has taken a bold step towards urban sustainability by launching eastern India’s first Tree Ambulance service, a free emergency response initiative for distressed trees in public spaces.
Operated by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) in collaboration with the non-profit Mithri Mitti, this mobile unit addresses tilted, storm-hit, or uprooted trees that pose risks to public safety. Residents can dial the toll-free number 1800 123 6219 to report issues, prompting swift action from a team equipped with botanists, gardeners, tree surgeons, and essential tools for stabilisation, pruning, treatment, soil restoration, and safe relocation.
Funded at Rs 12.5 lakh through MLA Debasish Kumar’s local area development funds and launched last week in December 2025 at Rabindra Sarobar, the service marks a proactive shift from reactive clean-ups to prevention, especially vital in a city prone to cyclones near the Bay of Bengal.
Officials describe it as a pilot based on recent tree census recommendations, with no citizen complaints reported yet, highlighting broad stakeholder support from municipal leaders to environmental experts like Sanjay Jaisingh.
Pilot Tackles Tree Vulnerabilities
This ambulance is more than a vehicle it’s a lifeline on wheels, stocked with biocides, pruning gear, and diagnostic tools to treat diseases, repair damage, and restore soil health around affected trees.
A comprehensive KMC tree census painted a stark picture: nearly 6 per cent of surveyed trees have exposed roots, 7 per cent suffer from concretised bases that strangle growth, and 8 per cent show human-inflicted damage, while about 50 per cent tower over 20 feet, making them susceptible to high winds during monsoons.
“Dial 1800 123 6219 to avail the facility,” a KMC official emphasised, underscoring the service’s accessibility and urgency. Biodiversity expert Somnath Sen added a human touch, warning that the combination of tall trees and cyclonic gusts can turn neighbourhood giants into lethal hazards, as seen in past incidents where uprooted trees blocked roads and damaged homes.
Stories from residents already reporting “sick” trees near parks humanise the effort, transforming abstract statistics into real calls for help that save both greenery and lives. Stationed near Entally Police Station, the unit plans targeted patrols on high-risk lists, ensuring comprehensive coverage across Kolkata’s wards.
Roots in Decade-Long Urban Decline
Kolkata’s green woes run deep, with the city losing 30 per cent of its forest and tree cover over the past decade from 2.5 square kilometres in 2011 to just 1.8 square kilometres in 2021 placing it among India’s metros with the sharpest declines.
Factors like rampant concretisation, air pollution, illegal encroachments, and frequent cyclones have thinned the canopy, leaving per-person tree cover alarmingly low at less than 1 per cent in some areas.
Historical incidents amplify the context: post-monsoon clean-ups in recent years have cleared hundreds of fallen trees, straining civic resources and exposing lives to danger, as winds topple unbalanced specimens during storms.
This service builds directly on those lessons, endorsed by the tree census that flagged vulnerabilities citywide. Broader urban challenges, including rapid development and climate pressures, make Kolkata a cautionary tale for other metros, yet this initiative positions it as a pioneer.
By responding to SOS calls before disasters unfold, it prevents not just physical damage but also biodiversity loss, offering a model that integrates technology, community reporting, and expert intervention seamlessly.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Tree Ambulance exemplifies empathy in action, extending kindness to the silent sentinels our trees that purify air, cool streets, and foster harmony between bustling humanity and fragile nature.
In a world racing towards concretised futures, Kolkata’s commitment to prevention over reaction aligns perfectly with values of coexistence, dialogue, and positive change, urging cities to nurture their green lungs before irreversible loss. This pilot, born from data-driven insights and community needs, inspires a nationwide ripple effect, proving that small, empathetic steps can build resilient urban ecosystems.
