Bangalore: Tree falls on auto rickshaw, woman killed, close shave for two others

Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, May 9: In an incident which occurred at Modi Road in Rajajinagar in the city late evening on Wednesday May 8, a woman who was travelling in an auto rickshaw died after being crushed by a tree which directly fell on the auto rickshaw. The deceased has been identified as Geeta Manjunath.

On account of rain and storm which swept the city on Wednesday evening, a roadside tree suddenly got uprooted. Geeta’s sister-in-law, Sarita, who was also a passenger of the ill-fated auto rickshaw, and the driver, Seethesh, escaped imminent death by a whisker. The driver was tossed outside the vehicle due to the impact of the fall. Although the survivors and some passersby tried to shift Geeta to a hospital, she died within minutes of the accident. Geeta was bleeding profusely, but moving her away immediately was rendered impossible by the uprooted electric poles, onlookers said.

The vehicle in which the deceased was travelling was mangled beyond recognition. It is said that Geeta, residing in Kamalanagar in the city, was to meet a friend from Basaveshwaranagar for going shopping together. Geeta and Sarita had planned to travel by the city bus, but took an auto rickshaw as it started raining then. Those who were passing by the site of accident said they were frightful initially of approaching the victims, as the electric poles began falling to the ground, and there was risk of getting electrocuted or crushed. The fact that power went off immediately contributed to the fear, it is gathered.

The sudden accident sent Sarita into a shock. She could not provide any telephone numbers of close ones, and after repeated efforts, the locals could get the number of husband from her. Geeta’s husband is said to be outside the city at the time of the accident.

Fire brigade officials later arrived on the spot and removed the body with the help of jacks. Post mortem was conducted at Victoria Hospital.

A number of electric poles also got razed to the ground. These poles damaged four cars and a three-wheeler but no one else was injured in these cases.