Palampur: 3 families narrowly escape as trees fall on buildings

Palampur: Three families had a narrow escape when huge trees fell on five buildings in Maranda town under Palampur Municipal Corporation on Pathankot-Mandi National Highway-154 last night. No casualties were reported in the incident but property worth lakhs was damaged. The affected people alleged that the administration was well aware of the condition of the old trees but did not take initiative to remove these trees. Ashok Sood, Kulbhushan and Romesh Sood, owners of partially damaged buildings, alleged that more than 100 such trees were posing a threat to the lives and property of people under Palampur Municipal Corporation but the concerned authorities turned a blind eye to the issue. They claimed that the residents had brought the matter to the notice of the Municipal Corporation and the Municipal Administration but to no avail. On June 27, The Tribune had highlighted that old trees planted on the roadside in Palampur area were posing a threat to people during the monsoon season. Over 100 trees were identified by officials at various locations on the Pathankot-Mandi national highway in Palampur Municipal Corporation. With the onset of monsoon, residents of Holta, Kapila Nursing Home, Bus Stand, Lohana, Kalu Di Hatti, Tiny Tots School, Mission Compound, Maranda and Karan Hospital premises have been having sleepless nights as several old trees have become a threat to them. They had also given complaints to the Palampur SDM, divisional forest officer and municipal corporation officials to remove the dangerous trees. Palampur Mayor Gopal Nag told The Tribune that the municipal corporation had received several memoranda from residents to remove dangerous trees from near their houses. Municipal corporation officials had visited the sites for verification. Now, the municipal corporation has forwarded the matter to the Palampur SDM, who has the authority to cut the trees.