Staff Reporter/Correspondent
DIMAPUR/KOHIMA, OCT 12 (NPN): In freak incident, gusty winds brought down two big eucalyptus trees crashing down on makeshift stalls used by street vendors along the roadside near Naga Shopping Arcade (Super Market) on Wednesday afternoon, killing one on the spot while another among the eight injured died on way to hospital.
This is the second time within six months that eucalyptus trees had fallen within the Naga Arcade premises. Earlier in April this year minister Forest & Environment and Climate Change Yollow Konyak narrowly escaped serious harm when a eucalyptus tree fell on top of the Innova in which he was travelling.
In Wednesday’s incident, DCP & PRO Dimapur Police, Bharat Laxman informed that the incident took place around 3:20 pm when a sudden gust of wind uprooted the two trees, that crashed onto vegetable vendors and some customers.
Five men and three women were injured, one of the two seriously injured died later. Four of the injured were vendors at the market while four others were customers, he said.
The shocked passers-by and other vendors then sprung into action to rescue the injured and rushed them to District Hospital, Dimapur. However, one local woman vendor was declared brought dead by doctors at the hospital, the PRO said.
Later, in the evening, another non-Naga vendor also succumbed to his injuries, Laxman added. The PRO said one of the critically injured was pregnant and was the sister of the deceased woman.
Images and videos showed that the uprooted eucalyptus trees lining up along the side wall in the Arcade and adjacent to the road above, were decayed and could not withstand the force of the wind and crashed to the ground.
All eucalyptus trees to be felled: Yollow
Meanwhile, Forest & Environment and Climate Change minister YM Yollow Konyak, deputy CM Y. Patton and adviser power H. Tovihoto Ayemi have expressed deep anguish over the unfortunate incident.
Taking into consideration the safety of all citizens, Yollow said the Forest department had initiated the process of felling all trees surrounding Naga Shopping Arcade (Super Market) area, especially eucalyptus trees.
Talking to Nagaland Post, Yollow acknowledged that eucalyptus trees in Super Market area were not decorative, but instead posed a threat to the life and property of many.
He said though the forest department had initiated the process of felling of the trees in the area, it was delayed due to several procedural formalities like involvement of other departments and financial constraints to develop the area once it was cleared of trees.
Yollow said the felling would involve Development Authority of Nagaland, Power Department, Telecom, etc, besides proper planning so that traffic was not disrupted.
He also assured that the forest department will definitely fell all the eucalyptus trees at the earliest.
Yollow also expressed sincere condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased and wished the injured speedy recovery.
It may be mentioned that experts say that 90% of a cultivated eucalyptus’s root system is found in the top 12 inches (30.5 cm.) of soil. This results in eucalyptus being shallow and potentially vulnerable during winds.
In exposed locations, where eucalyptus trees are subjected to strong winds, a shallow root system presents a hazard to people, homes and other structures.
The Eucalyptus trees were planted sometime during the 90s by youths of some organisation as part of beautification drive. The species is fast growing but prone to attracting lightning and also getting uprooted during storms.
Patton: State deputy chief minister Y. Patton expressed deep pain over the tragic incident at Super Market. “My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayers for the quick recovery of the injured. May the soul of the departed rest in peace,” Patton said in a tweet.
Tovihoto: Advisor for Power Tovihoto Ayemi also expressed shock and pain over the incident.
According to media cell, Tovihoto, who is currently out of station, had directed the Dimapur district administration led by deputy commissioner Dimapur to effectively take stock of the situation along with the intervention of the district disaster management agency and Dimapur Municipal Council.
Condoling families of the deceased, Tovihoto also wished speedy recovery of those injured.
Tovihoto informed that the administration along with other concerned departments and agencies would initiate immediate necessary steps to ensure safety of the public and to prevent future occurrence of such incidents in crowded areas.