Thane, Jun 12 (PTI) A huge banyan tree located in the premises of Thane Mayor Naresh Mhaske's bungalow in the city collapsed on Saturday amid heavy rains and wind, prompting him to seek its transplantation.

There is no report of any casualty or damage to property, officials said.

In a letter to Thane civic chief, the mayor said the tree had been a silent spectator to many important meetings of Shiv Sena leaders for the last 50 years.

Mhaske said the tree had been like an icon for the Sena and many party workers are emotionally connected to it.

After it was founded by Bal Thackeray in 1966, the Sena won its first civic poll in Thane in 1967.

"Hence there is a dire need to protect and preserve this tree and the civic corporation should consult experts and get it transplanted," the Mayor stated in his letter.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)