MAPUSA: Rajaram Kumbhar (55) suffered head injuries after a huge mango tree from his own property came down crashing on his house at St Anthony Waddo, Guirim (close to Mapusa), on Monday late evening.
However, the other members of his family to escape unhurt. The fire department has estimated the loss suffered by Kumbhar at around Rs 1,50,000.
On being informed, Mapusa Fire services reached the spot at around 7.25 pm but managed to cut and clear only few branches of the fallen tree.
Mapusa Fire Station in-charge Bosco Ferrao informed that due to heavy rains it was unsafe for his firefighters to clear the fallen portion of the tree as it was lying in a very dangerous position.
“On receiving the information, we rushed to the site but found that the injured person was already taken to the District Hospital at Mapusa. Nothing happened to other members of the family,” Ferrao said.
It was learnt that the injured person is in a stable condition and undergoing treatment at Mapusa District Hospital.
When asked why the fallen tree has not been cleared even after 24 hours of the incident, Ferrao said, “Our team could not climb up the house to clear the big branches as it was slippery and dangerous due to the continuous raining. I cannot send my firefighters up in such dangerous conditions as the walls of the house are weak and can crumble at any time.”
He however noted that his department “is doing a good job and the people are happy with their services.”
“If my firefighters get injured who will be responsible for them? In the past, several of them have got seriously injured. Keeping this in mind, I decided to let this task be carried out by a professional private tree cutter. We have given the said family the phone numbers of profession people who can do the job and we can help with any other assistance needed such as ropes and ladder,” he added.
Meanwhile, the fire department on Tuesday evening cleared few small branches.
