Nearly two weeks after the ‘Grand old tree’ (species: Ficus religiosa or peepal tree) was uprooted after a heavy storm on June 22 night, the trunk was still not totally removed thereby causing hurdle to vehicular movement along Purana Bazar and Naharbari (NH-29).
The failure of authorities to remove the trunk, which still occupied portions of the road, sharply contrasts with the much –hyped ‘Disaster Management’ awareness and training being undertaken during the past few years. “If this is our preparation for disaster management, then it’s a disastrous management” said one senior government official.
SP Dimapur Z. Mero admitted that all efforts were being made to remove the trunk. He disclosed that the forest department could not help since it did not posses required sawing equipment.
He said both police and GREF personnel had to cut the trunk manually with axe and daos. Mero, however said that the police department could seek help from other departments.
On spot verification, it was found out that two Dimapur traffic police along with eight Home Guards personnel, attached with traffic Dimapur, four from GREF and two from forest department were engaged in cutting the fallen tree trunk with cross cut saw and axe.
It may be recalled that on June 28 midnight, a truck from Manipur rammed into the trunk killing the handyman on the spot. In another incident, on June 25, an auto rammed on the tree trunk but the driver survived the mishap. Traffic police belatedly set up warning barriers after this newspaper pointed out the lapse.
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