Beltangady: A motorcyclist had a narrow escape after a roadside tree, uprooted by heavy rain and strong winds, crashed onto his moving motorcycle at Bargula near Shishila in Dakshina Kannada district on Friday. The rider escaped without any injuries despite the dramatic incident, which also disrupted power supply and briefly affected traffic movement.
The incident occurred on the Kokkada–Shishila road, where continuous rainfall accompanied by gusty winds has weakened several roadside trees. The accident serves as another reminder of the hazards posed by adverse weather conditions during the monsoon season.
Tree crashes onto moving motorcycle
The motorcyclist has been identified as Ratheesh Poojary, a resident of Denodi in Shishila village. He was travelling from Kokkada towards Shishila when the tree suddenly fell onto his motorcycle.
According to local sources, the tree was uprooted due to heavy rain and strong winds prevailing in the region. The unexpected fall left Ratheesh with little time to react. Fortunately, he escaped the incident unharmed despite the tree landing directly on his motorcycle.
The motorcycle sustained damage in the mishap, but the rider did not suffer any physical injuries. Residents described the escape as miraculous, considering the impact of the falling tree.
Power supply disrupted
After falling onto the road, the tree also came into contact with overhead electricity lines, resulting in an interruption of power supply in the surrounding area.
The damaged power lines prompted officials to inspect the site and assess the extent of the disruption. Electricity restoration work was initiated after ensuring that the fallen tree could be safely removed from the road.
Rescue teams clear the obstruction
The fallen tree completely obstructed the road for some time, leading to temporary disruption of vehicular traffic. Members of the Dharmasthala Shaurya Disaster Management Force’s Arasinamakki–Shishila unit quickly reached the location and launched clearance operations.
Working alongside local residents, the volunteers cut and removed the tree from the carriageway, allowing traffic to resume after the obstruction was cleared. Their prompt response helped minimise inconvenience to commuters travelling through the stretch.
Officials inspect the site
Panchayat staff and MESCOM powerman Santosh visited the spot to inspect the damage caused by the incident. They assessed the condition of the electricity infrastructure and coordinated efforts to restore normal power supply.
Officials also urged motorists to exercise caution while travelling through forested and hilly stretches during the ongoing monsoon, as heavy rainfall and strong winds continue to increase the risk of trees and branches falling onto roads.
With the southwest monsoon remaining active across Dakshina Kannada, authorities have advised residents to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rain and gusty winds. The timely intervention of disaster management volunteers and local residents ensured that the road was reopened quickly and that no casualties were reported.