Motorcyclist in coma after tree branch falls on him in Rajajinagar

A 52-year-old motorcyclist suffered critical head injuries and was left in a coma after a dry tree branch fell on him while he was riding along Ram Mandir Road in Rajajinagar, Bengaluru, on Wednesday evening. Local residents immediately rushed the victim to a nearby hospital, and he was later shifted to a private hospital in Yeshwantpur.

The victim, identified as Satish, was on his way for finance collection work when the dry branch from a roadside tree suddenly broke off and struck his head. The impact, which was captured on CCTV, caused him to lose control of his vehicle and crash onto the road. Doctors performed emergency brain surgery on Satish and informed his family that the first 48 hours are critical.

When contacted, a senior GBA official from the West City Corporation termed the occurrence a sporadic incident and stated that the team was extending all possible support. The official explained that the area has many old trees, some of which have dead branches that do not outwardly appear to be dead.

According to the official, pruning on one side of a tree can sometimes cause it to lean and create an imbalance. He noted that pruning is sometimes conducted during night hours when complaints are overwhelming, and low visibility during these times can lead to branches being cut in a way that creates an imbalance. However, the official added that they are still trying to understand what went wrong in this specific incident.

The accident follows a similar tragedy in June last year, when a 29-year-old HR executive slipped into a coma and later succumbed to his injuries after a tree branch fell on his head in Hanumanthnagar. Following that incident, the government booked Forest Cell officials for negligence and transferred the District Conservator of Forests.