Kadaba: Scooter rider’s death in tree fall – Public protests, demands removal of hazardous trees

Team Udayavani, Nov 2, 2024, 3:12 PM IST

Kadaba: In a tragic incident on the Kadaba-Panja road, a scooter rider lost his life after a roadside tree fell on him. Following the accident, locals gathered at the site on Saturday, November 2, staging a protest and blocking the road. They demanded the immediate removal of dangerous roadside trees and adequate compensation for the deceased’s family.

The protesters insisted that district authorities visit the site before allowing the removal of the fallen tree from the road. Consequently, vehicular traffic along the Kadaba-Panja route was stalled for approximately two and a half hours.

Panja Forest Zone Officer Sandhya arrived at the scene and assured the protesters that the forest department would identify and clear hazardous trees along the road within a week. She also confirmed that an official report would be submitted to facilitate government compensation for the deceased’s family. Following these assurances, the protest was called off.

Kadaba Sub-Inspector Abhinandan M.S., along with forest department personnel, were present at the protest site.

The demonstration was led by prominent local figures, including Krishna Shetty from Kadaba, Fazal Kodimbala, Raghuram Naik from Kukerebettu, Seetharam Gowda K., Anish Lobo, Balakrishna D.K., Jayant K., Keshav Berike, Ramanna Jaltharu, and Mohan Kodimbala.

The deceased, identified as Seetharam Gowda (58) from Yedamangala, was travelling by scooter on Saturday morning when a tree beside the road collapsed, pinning him underneath and resulting in his death.