Bantwal: A couple had a miraculous escape after a tree fell onto an electric pole, bringing both crashing down on their moving car near Padibagilu in Vittal on Monday morning.
The incident occurred when a Swift car was travelling from Kuddupadavu towards Vittal. The husband and wife travelling in the vehicle escaped without injuries, although the car sustained damage in the mishap.
Tree and electric pole fall on moving vehicle
According to local sources, the couple was travelling through the Padibagilu stretch when a tree suddenly collapsed onto an electric pole. The impact caused the pole to fall directly onto the moving car.
The unexpected incident left the occupants of the vehicle shaken. Fortunately, neither of them suffered any injuries despite the severity of the accident.
Photographs and videos from the scene showed the damaged car trapped beneath the fallen tree and electric pole.
Traffic disrupted temporarily
The incident resulted in a temporary disruption of traffic on the road, with vehicular movement coming to a standstill for some time.
Motorists using the route were forced to wait as the fallen tree and electric pole blocked the carriageway completely.
Local residents gathered at the spot and assisted in managing the situation until emergency personnel arrived.
Joint effort restores normalcy
Police personnel, staff of the power utility and local residents later joined hands to remove the fallen tree and electric pole from the road.
After several hours of effort, the obstruction was cleared and normal traffic movement was restored on the stretch.
Authorities are assessing the damage caused to the electric infrastructure and the vehicle involved in the incident.
The mishap once again highlights the risks posed by weakened trees and electric poles during the monsoon season, when strong winds and heavy rains often lead to such incidents across the coastal districts.