Falling tree branch critically injures 53-year-old biker in Rajajinagar

On June 24, a 53-year-old finance firm employee was critically injured and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after a dry tree branch fell directly on his head on Ram Mandir Road in Rajajinagar, Bengaluru. The victim, Suresh, was riding his two-wheeler without a helmet when the dry branch struck him, knocking him unconscious and causing him to collapse in the middle of the road. The incident has sparked widespread public criticism against the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) for failing to prune dead trees despite repeated complaints from local residents.

According to CCTV footage of the incident, Suresh was riding his two-wheeler when the dry tree branch fell directly on his head. The impact immediately knocked him unconscious, and he collapsed onto the road along with his bike. Passersby quickly rushed to the spot and took him to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition in the ICU.

The accident has led to severe backlash from Rajajinagar residents, who pointed out that the GBA has repeatedly ignored their complaints regarding dead trees and weak branches. While the GBA claims to actively prune trees and remove dangerous, dead branches across the city, local residents argued that these claims do not reflect the situation on their streets.

Residents further noted that many tree branches in the area are extremely weak and are currently standing only because they are supported by overhead cables. They warned that these unstable branches could fall at any moment, posing a continuous threat to the safety of commuters and pedestrians.

The video of the accident has since gone viral on social media platforms, drawing heavy criticism from netizens who accused the GBA of playing with the lives of citizens. Following the public outcry, officials from the GBA's forest wing visited the accident site on Ram Mandir Road. Meanwhile, the Rajajinagar police have registered a non-cognisable report regarding the incident.