CANACONA
Two youths from Nuem-Shristhal were injured after a tree came crashing down on their scooter while they were proceeding on the road at Shristhal on Monday morning.
According to reports, a large tree fell on the scooter, and while the rider sustained minor injuries, the pillion rider was grievously hurt and was unconscious after the mishap. He was first shifted to the Canacona CHC and later to the South Goa District Hospital at Margao for further treatment.
According to locals, the road towards the Shri Mallikarjun Temple has numerous trees in precarious condition and needs to be pruned. The road is used by devotees and Mahajans to visit the temple, particularly on Mondays, and by residents of Nuem, Vaizawada, and other residential areas, as well as students at Shristhal Government High School.
The busy Monday traffic, with many devotees heading to the temple and back home, was stranded on the road until a fire brigade cleared the tree and restored traffic along the route.
Locals allege that complaints were submitted to the panchayat and other authorities to cut and remove the trees posing a danger to motorists and pedestrians, but to no avail. “The panchayat gives lame excuses of non-availability of funds, while the disaster management authority is oblivious to the dangerous situation,” complained a local.
