A massive branch of a banyan tree came crashing onto a house in Aldona during heavy rainfall in the early hours of Tuesday, causing considerable damage to the property.
The incident took place at around 12.30 a.m. while the woman owner was alone inside the house. Thankfully, she escaped without injuries and no casualties were reported.
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A team from the Fire and Emergency Services was called to the scene and carried out a difficult operation to remove the fallen branch from the roof. Owing to the branch’s large size and weight, the clearance operation took more than two-and-a-half hours to complete.
Shahid Khan, Fire Officer, Mapusa, said:
“We received a call in the morning and immediately rushed to the site. The operation was challenging because of the size of the tree branch and the risk involved in removing it safely. It took over two-and-a-half hours to clear the debris. We estimate the property damage to be between ₹25,000 and ₹30,000. Fortunately, no one was injured.”
Fire officials estimated the property damage at around ₹25,000 to ₹30,000. However, the homeowner’s family believes the losses could be significantly higher, as the falling branch damaged the metal roofing sheets, window shades, and part of the compound wall.
Desmond Guiaom, a local resident, said:
“My mother was alone in the house when the branch fell shortly after midnight. Thankfully, she was not hurt. We came in the morning and contacted the Fire and Emergency Services, who removed the debris. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but the roof, window shades, and compound wall have all been affected.”
The incident underscores the risks posed by ageing trees during the monsoon season, although the prompt response of the Fire and Emergency Services helped avert further damage and ensured the safety of the occupants.
