SANGUEM
The last day of taking driving classes in a car from a driving institute turned tragic for a 39-year-old woman and mother of two minor children when a tree came crashing down on the vehicle near the Sanguem Police Station at about 9.30 am on Thursday, killing her on the spot and injuring the instructor.
The incident left residents in the area in a state of shock, especially since the mishap took place barely around 200 metres from the house of the deceased Anita Fernandes of Bamonsai-Sanguem, while many were furious with authorities for failing to cut the tree which was in lying in a dangerous condition.
According to locals, Thursday was the last day of Fernandes at her driving school and she was reportedly told to come for her final driving class at 8.30 am. However, she was busy with some personal work and informed the instructor that she would come at about 9.30 am.
Five minutes after the car left the Sanguem Bus Stand, a huge Gulmohur tree came crashing down on the car near the Sanguem Police Station, smashing the car. Fernandes, who was in driver's seat, was killed on the spot.
The driving instructor Nasif Shaikh, however, escaped with injuries to his hand and is recuperating at the District Hospital Margao.
Immediately after the incident, a large number of people gathered at the site of incident and blamed authorities for failing to get the tree cut as it was in lying in a dangerous condition.
Sources informed that the police had even conveyed to the forest department in Sanguem regarding the tree, but no efforts were made to cut the tree.
“The Sanguem Municipal Council (SMC) had also tried to cut the tree on several occasions but could not cut the tree because of opposition from a land owner,” alleged SMC Councillor Romualdo Fernandes.
The deceased Anita Fernandes leaves behind her husband, who is working in the United Kingdom, their son (8) and daughter (1).
Upset over the incident which claimed a precious life, residents from Sanguem have demanded the felling of trees lying dangerously by the roadside form Dando to Sanguem. Locals also claimed than an old mango tree at the Sanguem Bus Stand also needs to be cut as it is on the verge of collapse.
The incident left residents in the area in a state of shock, especially since the mishap took place barely around 200 metres from the house of the deceased Anita Fernandes of Bamonsai-Sanguem, while many were furious with authorities for failing to cut the tree which was in lying in a dangerous condition.
According to locals, Thursday was the last day of Fernandes at her driving school and she was reportedly told to come for her final driving class at 8.30 am. However, she was busy with some personal work and informed the instructor that she would come at about 9.30 am.
Five minutes after the car left the Sanguem Bus Stand, a huge Gulmohur tree came crashing down on the car near the Sanguem Police Station, smashing the car. Fernandes, who was in driver's seat, was killed on the spot.
The driving instructor Nasif Shaikh, however, escaped with injuries to his hand and is recuperating at the District Hospital Margao.
Immediately after the incident, a large number of people gathered at the site of incident and blamed authorities for failing to get the tree cut as it was in lying in a dangerous condition.
Sources informed that the police had even conveyed to the forest department in Sanguem regarding the tree, but no efforts were made to cut the tree.
“The Sanguem Municipal Council (SMC) had also tried to cut the tree on several occasions but could not cut the tree because of opposition from a land owner,” alleged SMC Councillor Romualdo Fernandes.
The deceased Anita Fernandes leaves behind her husband, who is working in the United Kingdom, their son (8) and daughter (1).
Upset over the incident which claimed a precious life, residents from Sanguem have demanded the felling of trees lying dangerously by the roadside form Dando to Sanguem. Locals also claimed than an old mango tree at the Sanguem Bus Stand also needs to be cut as it is on the verge of collapse.
