Scooterist injured as branch falls on highway at Gulem

Angry locals hold discussions with a police team on the NH66 highway at Gulem-Canacona late Tuesday evening.

CANACONA

Tension prevailed at Gulem-Canacona after a rider was seriously injured when a branch came crashing down on a scooter late Tuesday evening on the NH66 highway in Canacona.

Angry locals blocked the highway for over an hour and claimed that trees which had been earmarked for felling nearly 10 years ago were still standing tall.

MISHAP

According to reports, the incident took place at about 7 pm when Maruti Velip, who was riding his scooter on way to his home at Gulem, was struck by a large branch which came crashing down on the road.

The one part of the branch hit his shoulder and he was flung on the road. Velip sustained serious injuries and was first rushed to the Canacona Community Health Centre (CHC), from where he was shifted to the South Goa District Hospital at Margao.

News of the mishap spread in the area and a large number of people gathered at the accident site.

PROTEST

Realising the tree which was dangerously close to the highway was allowed to remain at the site, angry locals decided to block the highway in protest.

A fire brigade went to the site to clear the tree, but the protesting locals refused to allow the firefighters to begin operations, causing traffic to be held up on both sides of the highway for a long time.

A Canacona police team led by PI Harish Raut Dessai also rushed to the site and after engaging in talks with the locals, finally persuaded them to clear the road and allow traffic to resume along the highway. Traffic was finally restored at about 8.30 pm.

GRIEVANCE

The aggrieved locals claimed that authorities had earmarked a number of trees, which were dangerously close to the highway especially in Gulem section, to be felled.

“Due to carelessness of authorities, people have been made to suffer,” complained a resident.

Asked if they had complained to authorities about the trees still standing despite being numbered by authorities and earmarked for removal, another resident shot back: “These dangers are clearly visible on the highway and it is for authorities to take action and not wait for locals to complain.”

“Heavy vehicles were clearly literally brushing against this branch, which finally gave way and came crashing down, badly injuring a scooterist in the process.”

“These trees were numbered about 10 years ago and we can’t see why it takes so many years to cut them.”

RESPONSE

A firefighter who was at the site clarified that they had not received any order to fell these trees earmarked along the highway.

“We have to get official orders to cut the trees and we simply cannot go and cut private trees. We have cut several trees on the Karmalghat section which were dangerous to traffic. It is for PWD to bring to our notice, and to take action on any such dangerous trees. It is for the Disaster Management Authority to take the initiative,” said the firefighter.

Another firefighter informed that at a meeting by the Disaster Management Authority a few days ago, it was decided to conduct a survey and mark those trees posing a danger on the roads.

“Accordingly, a decision is taken to cut the trees. People, however, have been demanding the immediate felling of trees on the road, without waiting for loss of injury to life. Authorities should immediately take action in the matter.”