Tree falls in Kalyan ground, injures 5

KALYAN: A tree fell on a dais put up for a lecture for senior citizens at Kalyan Subhash maidan on Wednesday, injuring five.

The event was in its third day and many senior citizens had gathered for a lecture.

Doctor Shailesh Godbole, 85, suffered injuries to his hand and his wife Sulabha Godbole, 82, was injured on her leg as the huge branch fell over them.

“Five of them from the audience suffered injuries. They were taken to the hospital. The fire brigade team reached the spot to remove the tree. The tree fell when all of us were busy listening to the lectures,” said a representative of senior citizens’ group, Kalyan.

The tree was behind the makeshift stage. A KDMC official, who was jogging on the ground, saw the tree fall and informed the fire department.

A lecture series had been organised by the senior citizens’ group Kalyan and the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) at the ground from May 9 to May 14.

On Wednesday, half an hour into the lecture, the huge tree fell over the stage.

The stage which was covered from above however protected the dignitaries on the stage but injured five of the senior citizens seated at the front row attending the lecture program.

“The tree is very old, dry and was weak. There was a strong wind in the evening and the tree crashed to the makeshift pandal. It would have caused more injuries had the stage not been built,” said Namdeo Choudhari, fire officer of KDMC.

“We reached the spot on time as our officer informed us without much delay” added Choudhari.

RISHIKESH CHOUDHARY The tree that fell on a dais put up for a lecture for senior citizens at Kalyan Subhash maidan on Wednesday.