Falling Trees Spark Safety Fears Across Guwahati

Guwahati: Guwahati residents are demanding action after falling trees caused two dangerous incidents in five weeks. A massive branch snapped off a decades-old tree outside the Assam Secretariat in Dispur. It smashed onto a parked car belonging to Northeast Now Executive Editor Mahesh Deka. Deka and journalist Chandan Borgohain were inside the vehicle during the collapse. Both men walked away unhurt.

The city remains on edge. This incident follows a deadly collapse in the Bhootnath-Kalipur area on June 12. College student Parismita Hazarika died when a tree fell onto her scooter near a railway track. She was riding with fellow student Jyotirmoy Mohan toward Pandu College for an exam. Mohan survived but suffered serious injuries. Hazarika was trapped beneath the wreckage. Doctors confirmed her death upon arrival at the hospital, noting she suffered extensive trauma to the waist and a spinal fracture.

Critics point to a lack of oversight. Many ageing trees with dry, brittle branches loom over busy footpaths and roads. Vendors and pedestrians crowd these areas daily. Passers-by noted that the outcome could have been much worse had the Secretariat branch fallen during peak traffic. Residents say the local government prioritizes tree clearing for construction projects while ignoring structural risks in public spaces. People want a full survey of vulnerable trees now. As monsoon rains and high winds continue to batter the city, local groups are demanding immediate pruning or removal of dangerous timber to prevent further loss of life.