Gusty winds cause havoc in B'luru, uproot trees

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: The city experienced multiple incidents of trees and branches falling across various locations on Saturday.

A number of people suffered injuries, though no major untoward incident was reported. An autorickshaw suffered significant damage after a Gulmohar tree got uprooted and fell on it at the Richmond Road.

In Gavipuram near Kempegowda Nagar, a father and son riding a two-wheeler sustained minor injuries due to falling branches.

Similar incidents occurred in Attigupe near Bilimill Employee’s Colony and Hosahalli near Telecom Layout, where branches fell on two-wheeler riders, causing minor injuries.

Another incident took place near Surana College at Southend Circle. In all, 16 trees and 56 branch falling incidents were reported across the city. The incidents have raised significant concerns about urban tree management and public safety, urging the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to take immediate action.

Gusty winds uprooted a huge tree on Edward’s Road in Shivajinagar around 2.30 on Saturday, causing traffic chaos in the area. Two cars were damaged in the incident, blocking the busy thoroughfare.

Vehicles were forced to take alternative routes, resulting in congestion on nearby road as well. Commuters experienced long delays, with some reporting being stuck in traffic for over an hour. Public transport services, including buses and autorickshaws, were also severely affected, adding to the inconvenience faced by daily commuters.

Residents of Edward’s Road and the surrounding areas were equally troubled. Many reported power outages as the tree had brought down electrical lines. Several houses faced interruptions in their water supply due to damaged pipelines

. The incident sparked a discussion among residents about the need for regular tree maintenance and checks to prevent such occurrences.

“To prevent such mishaps in the future, maintenance of old trees, especially those over 100 years old, is crucial," advised Nagaraj Kumar, a local resident.