Tree Branch Falls on Helmetless Bengaluru Biker, Leaves Him Critical; Family Alleges Officials Ignored Repeated Warnings
Bengaluru, June 26: A 50-year-old motorcyclist is battling for life after a dry tree branch fell on him while he was riding near Ram Mandir Road in Rajajinagar, with the victim’s family alleging that repeated complaints about hazardous trees in the area had gone unaddressed by authorities.
The incident occurred around 5 pm on Tuesday, when Suresh, an employee of a private finance company, was travelling on his motorcycle to collect loan payments.
According to eyewitnesses and his employer, a dry tree branch suddenly snapped and struck Suresh on the head. The impact caused him to lose control of the motorcycle and fall onto the road, resulting in a severe head injury.
CCTV footage of the incident has surfaced, showing the branch falling onto the moving motorcycle before the rider collapsed on the road.
Notably, Suresh was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, according to information shared by his family and local reports. While the falling branch triggered the incident, the absence of a helmet may have contributed to the severity of the head injuries. However, authorities have not officially commented on whether the lack of a helmet worsened his condition.
Suresh was initially rushed to the ESI Hospital in Rajajinagar before being shifted to a private hospital in Yeshwanthpur, where he underwent emergency brain surgery.
Doctors have reportedly informed the family that the next 48 hours are critical, and his condition remains serious.
His daughter, Rakshita, said doctors found severe blood clotting and swelling in the skull and indicated that another surgery might be required.
“The doctors are not giving us much hope. They have said another surgery may be necessary. We don’t know what decision to take. We just want our father back,” she told a local Kannada news channel.
She also appealed to civic authorities to identify and remove dangerous trees across Bengaluru to prevent similar tragedies.
“No other family should suffer the way we are suffering. Such dangerous trees should be removed before another accident happens,” she said.
Family Alleges Civic Negligence
Suresh’s employer, Raghavendra, said the victim had been working with his finance company for nearly ten years and was on routine collection duty when the accident occurred.
He alleged that residents had repeatedly complained to the Forest Department about several dried and hazardous tree branches in the area but no preventive action was taken.
“After the incident, officials from the Forest Department and the GBA visited the spot and removed some branches. But this should have happened earlier. Many trees across Bengaluru have become dangerous. We don’t know when another branch may fall and destroy another family,” he said.
An FIR has been registered at the Rajajinagar Police Station in connection with the incident.
Local residents also claimed that authorities responded only after the accident, despite repeated representations seeking the removal of dried branches.
The Forest Department and officials of the GBA reportedly visited the location after the incident and began trimming hazardous branches.
A response from the concerned authorities regarding the allegations of negligence was sought and is awaited.
About the Author
