Tree collapse in southern India injures one; several vehicles damaged
by Aditi VermaA 65-year-old man died and another person was injured when a 30-foot peltophorum tree toppled onto a busy road in southern India’s Telangana.
The incident took in Shahalibanda, a locality in Hyderabad city on July 23.
Visuals showed people were normally doing their work in the market area, with autos and trucks parked nearby and others passing by in their vehicles. Suddenly, a large tree fell right in the middle of the road, crashing down on some people who were passing by. The loud sound of the falling tree alerted those nearby, who rushed out from their homes and shops. The scene quickly turned chaotic, with widespread panic and confusion as people tried to understand what had happened.
According to reports on Monday around 2 p.m., a massive 30-foot peltophorum tree fell unexpectedly on a busy road in Shahalibanda leading to the tragic death of 65-year-old Mohammed Salah. Salah was riding his bike when the tree collapsed, causing severe injuries that led to his death despite immediate medical attention. Another victim, 43-year-old Sheik Ahmed from Chandrayangutta, sustained injuries in the incident.
The sudden fall of the tree, exacerbated by recent incessant rains, left onlookers in shock and resulted in considerable damage to nearby two-wheelers and auto-rickshaws.
GHMC officials stated that the rains had saturated the tree, weakening its structure and contributing to its collapse. The affected tree has since been removed, and authorities will assess the stability of other trees in the area to prevent future incidents.
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