DIMAPUR, JUNE 22 (MExN): Vehicular traffic at Naharbari section of NH 29 came to a grinding halt on Friday, June 22 as the aged and majestic peepal tree, which stood on the side of the road uprooted and fell. It completely blocked vehicular movement. According to residents of the area, the tree fell around 2:30 am. The huge tree brought down alongwith it power lines running along on the other side of the road temporarily affecting transmission to localities beyond Naharbari. There was no report of any casualty.
The seasonal rough weather coupled with a weakening root system is believed to have caused the tree to fall. Peepal, of the family of fig trees, are known to live for hundreds of years. Exposed to harmful non-biodegradable waste elements, the aging tree was dying a slow death. The ground surrounding the tree, prone to water logging, was acting as a make-shift dumping ground and the air reeked of rot brought on by decomposing sewage.
Workers from the department of Forests, Purana Bazaar Ad-hoc Town Council and the Border Roads Organisation assisted by the traffic police and the district administration toiled throughout the day. Accelerating the road clearing exercise appeared impossible as the workers were forced to use basic tools like machetes, axe and hand-saws to remove branches in the absence of modern wood-cutting machinery, save a road excavator to clear the debris.
Meanwhile, vehicular movement was diverted via Purana Bazaar for Chumukedima bound vehicles and Naharbari for those proceeding towards town. The highway could be only partially cleared at around 5:00 pm. But the tree’s main trunk, covering almost a half of the width of the road, was yet to be removed.
