GUWAHATI, July 16: A large tree branch fell on a parked vehicle outside the Assam Secretariat in Dispur on Thursday, narrowly missing two journalists and renewing concerns over the safety of ageing trees in Guwahati during the monsoon.
The vehicle belonged to Northeast Now Executive Editor Mahesh Deka. Deka and another journalist, Chandan Borgohain, who was inside the vehicle at the time of the incident, escaped unhurt. However, the vehicle sustained substantial damage.
According to eyewitnesses, the branch had been dry and weakened for a long time, making it susceptible to collapse, particularly during the ongoing rainy season. Local residents said several ageing trees in the city continue to pose a risk as heavy rain and strong winds can cause them to fall without warning.
The incident has once again brought attention to the alleged failure of authorities to identify and remove hazardous trees in busy public areas. Residents claimed that the presence of such trees in high-traffic locations reflects inadequate preventive measures by the concerned departments.
The latest incident comes weeks after a fatal tree collapse in the Bhootnath-Kalipur area on June 12, when a dry tree fell on a scooter, killing college student Parisimita Hazarika and seriously injuring another student, Jyotirmoy Mohan. The tragedy had triggered widespread public outrage and demands for stricter monitoring of unsafe trees across the city.
The road outside the Assam Secretariat witnesses heavy pedestrian movement every day and is lined with tea stalls and other small vendors. Residents warned that the collapse of a large tree or branch during peak hours could result in a major tragedy.
They urged the government and civic authorities to immediately conduct a citywide survey to identify dangerous trees and take prompt action to prune or remove them to prevent further accidents.
