In the early hours of Saturday, May 24, relentless rainfall led to the collapse of a massive tree in the Falnir locality of Mangaluru, resulting in property damage and power disruption.
The tree toppled near St. Mary’s School on Attavar Road, crashing onto the roadside pathway. Two parked vehicles were struck and sustained considerable damage. The incident also affected the nearby electrical infrastructure—two utility poles were severely impacted and teetered dangerously, triggering a widespread power outage in the neighborhood starting that morning.
Crews from Hubli Electricity Supply Company (HESCOM) swiftly reached the location and began operations to replace the broken poles and restore electricity. However, by the time this report was compiled, repair work was still ongoing, and full power supply had yet to resume.
Mangaluru has been witnessing persistent showers over the past several days due to the arrival of the Southwest Monsoon in Coastal Karnataka. The saturated soil and strong winds are believed to have contributed to the tree’s collapse.
Residents expressed concern over the increasing number of such incidents caused by poor stormwater drainage and weak urban infrastructure. Local authorities have been urged to conduct regular checks on old and unstable trees to prevent future mishaps.
As the monsoon gains strength, citizens remain wary of potential hazards and continue to hope for quicker disaster response measures from civic bodies.
Read Also: