Teliamura:A massive banyan tree collapsed onto the homes of two families at Hawaibari Thangnai Bazar area under Teliamura subdivision on Saturday night, seriously injuring at least two people amid days of continuous heavy rainfall.
The tree reportedly uprooted around 10 PM after the soil loosened due to prolonged rain, falling onto adjacent houses belonging to Nitai Sarkar and Shankar Sarkar. Shankar Sarkar’s family suffered the most damage, with members sustaining serious injuries, while Nitai Sarkar’s family escaped major physical harm though their house was extensively damaged.
Local residents rushed the injured to Teliamura Sub-Divisional Hospital for treatment. On Sunday, a disaster management team began clearing the fallen tree, while Teliamura MLA and Assembly Chief Whip Kalyani Saha Roy visited the site along with administration officials.
Saha Roy assured affected families of government support, improved medical care, and house reconstruction. She also expressed strong displeasure over the Electricity Department’s alleged failure to act despite prior warnings about the risky tree and power lines, with dereliction of duty allegations raised against a junior manager of Teliamura Vidyut Nigam.