Guwahati: Barely five weeks apart, two incidents involving falling trees have exposed growing concerns over public safety in Guwahati, raising questions about whether authorities are doing enough to identify hazardous trees before they turn deadly.
The latest incident occurred outside the Assam Secretariat in Dispur, where a large branch from a decades-old tree suddenly snapped and fell on a parked vehicle belonging to Northeast Now Executive Editor Mahesh Deka. Deka and fellow journalist Chandan Borgohain were inside the car when the branch crashed onto the vehicle. Both escaped unhurt.
The incident has renewed focus on a fatal accident in the city’s Bhootnath-Kalipur area on June 12, when college student Parismita Hazarika was killed after a large tree collapsed onto the scooter she was riding.
Hazarika and fellow student Jyotirmoy Mohan were travelling from Bharalumukh to Pandu College to appear for an examination when a tree standing near a railway track suddenly fell across the road, crushing their scooter.
While Mohan sustained serious injuries, Hazarika became trapped beneath the fallen tree.
Doctors later declared Hazarika dead on arrival. Hospital authorities said she had suffered severe injuries, including a fracture near the upper spinal region and extensive trauma around the waist. Mohan continues to undergo treatment.
The two incidents have reignited concerns over the condition of ageing trees with dry branches across Guwahati, particularly during the monsoon, when heavy rainfall and gusty winds increase the risk of falling branches.
The tree outside the Assam Secretariat, from which the branch broke off, stands along one of the city’s busiest stretches. Hundreds of pedestrians use the route every day, while tea stalls and fruit juice vendors operate beneath its shade.
According to passers-by, had the branch fallen during peak hours, the consequences could have been far more severe.
The incidents have prompted questions over whether civic authorities are conducting regular safety audits of ageing trees and taking preventive measures such as pruning or felling structurally weak trees before accidents occur.
The issue has also drawn attention because tree felling for road widening and infrastructure projects has become common in the city, while residents say ageing, hazardous trees with weakened branches in public spaces often remain unattended despite posing a clear risk.
With the monsoon still underway, the recent incidents have intensified calls for a comprehensive survey of vulnerable trees across Guwahati and time-bound action to prevent further accidents.