A 200-year-old tree that fell during the heavy rains on Friday evening was removed after a day-long operation by BBMP staffers who had to cut it into small pieces as the congested roads did not allow free movement of the crane.

The tree inside the Jalakanteshwara temple fell on a old house, which collapsed partially.

N S Gopinath, a resident of the house, said 20 members of a joint family lived in the large house which has supported their family for over 100 years. “Though the tree fell on Friday evening, it took more than a day for the BBMP officials to come and clear it. They checked the damage only after the area corporator took them to task,” he said.

Gopinath said the tree collapse has left them homeless and they are now forced to take shelter in their relatives’ house. “Authorities have not announced any compensation for us. We need some assurance that they will help us to rebuild our life,” he added.

On Sunday, when DH visited the spot, the branches of the large tree were cut into small pieces as the road was too narrow for the movement of the crane. Only the boom of the crane could peek inside the alley way where moving anything beyond 10 feet was impossible.

“We have been working from the morning but are yet to clear all the branches. We still have the big trunk to cut,” a BBMP staffer said.

DH News Service

Tree fall renders 20 members of family homeless