Srinagar, Aug 24 (KNO): A major tragedy was averted when a large branch of a rotten Chinar tree fell on a wall of a residential house located in Gousia Coloney area of Baghat-e-Kanipora on Srinagar outskirts on Thursday.
Residents of the area told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that panic gripped entire locality of Gousia Colony sector 1, Bagaat-e-Kanipora on city outskirts when a huge branch of rotten Chinar tree fell on the wall and shop of a residential house of Abdul Majeed Wani.
The family members of Wani, who is a heart patient, screamed due to fear as the big Chinar branch fell on the HT wire before hitting the ground. A would be groom, who is scheduled to get married in a few days, was passing through the road in a car, miraculously escaped. However, his mobile phone and car suffered damage.
Speaking to KNO, Wani said that they have been moving from pillar to post since past many years requesting the higher ups to remove the Chinar tree. “It is a big threat to many houses and also to those who walk on the road,” he said, adding that repeated requests made to concerned Deputy Commissioner haven’t yielded anything.
“In the incident, the outer wall of the house suffered damage. The newly electric meter and HT wires suffered damage as well. My son runs a fair price rice shop which also suffered damage in the slab,” he said.
Many locals also said that authorities shouldn’t delay removal of Chinar tree as it may cause human loss besides loss to houses and property as well. “This tree is rotten from the bottom and should be cut immediately for the interests of inhabitants,” he said, adding that “We are thankful to Almighty that today, no human loss took place as otherwise, little kids play under the shade of this rotten tree and luckily all of them had gone to private tuition when the incident took place.”
Talking to KNO, concerned Tehsildar Mudasira said that she will go for site inspection tomorrow and ensure that the tree is cut for the safety of people living in the area. “The case stands forwarded to higher ups already. Let me visit the spot myself tomorrow,” she said. Meanwhile, locals of the Gousia Colony Sector 1, Bagaat-e-Kanipora threatened to block the main road if authorities still pay deaf ears to their demand of removing the rotten Chinar tree—(KNO)