Following the death of a teenager after a tree fell on him near Fingerpost in Udhagamandalam on Sunday, the district administration has directed the Revenue Department to identify trees at risk of falling onto roads.
Officials said the exercise was being carried out across the district, including Gudalur and Pandalur taluks, where two women travelling in an autorickshaw died when a tree fell onto their vehicle two weeks ago.
In Udhagamandalam, the Revenue Divisional Officer had asked permission from the National Highways Authority of India to axe 23 trees near Thalayathimund on the way to Coonoor.
L. Dinesh Kumar, Udhagamandalam Tahsildar, said that the trees, mostly exotic flora, were lined up by the side of the highway, and posed risk to road users. “We have already cut down trees on one side of the road, and work is being undertaken to clear the trees on the other side,” said Mr. Dinesh.
The trees near Thalayathimund will be the first to be removed.
The department has also identified 60 trees in danger of falling in 18 schools, colleges and anganwadis in Ooty, and will begin cutting them down in the coming days.