Bengaluru experienced a sudden thunderstorm on Wednesday that dumped 11cm of rain in just over an hour, causing hundreds of trees to topple across the city. Despite ongoing efforts by authorities to remove fallen trees and branches, many roads and footpaths remain obstructed by large trunks and debris.
Extent of Damage and Clearance Progress
According to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), a total of 476 trees and 1,171 branches fell between April 29 and May 3. Officials claim that 444 trees and 1,090 branches have been cleared so far. However, the presence of chopped trunks and piles of branches on footpaths across the city indicates that the work is far from complete. Authorities stated that their immediate priority was to restore vehicular movement by clearing main roads, with removal of debris from footpaths to follow later.
Residents Express Concerns
In Malleswaram, residents pointed out a large branch hanging dangerously from a tree, posing a risk to passers-by. On 8th Main Road, a fallen tree has been cut, but its trunk and branches remain stacked across a newly-constructed footpath. "This is blocking the entrance to an apartment complex and a bank. Many children, college students and senior citizens use this footpath and are now forced to walk on the road," said a resident. On BP Wadia Road in Basavanagudi, large tree trunks remain uncleared, and the fall has also damaged the railings along the footpaths.
Response and Challenges
GBA deputy conservator of forests Sudarshan GK said that 30 teams, including GBA rapid response teams and private contractors, have been deployed across the five city corporations to clear the fallen trees. "We had 28 teams for tree canopy management and were in the process of expanding to 66 teams when the thunderstorms hit," he said. Officials acknowledged that staff shortage has slowed down their response. A senior official said that without assistance from other departments, the situation would have taken much longer to manage. Engineering and solid waste management staff, along with police, fire services and NGOs, were pressed into service. "Otherwise, it could have taken 20-25 days to clear all the trees," the official added.
Tree Species and Future Plans
Most of the fallen trees were live, mature species such as Copperpod, Gulmohar, and Dalichandra, which have relatively weaker root systems. Officials said construction activity over the years may have damaged their lateral roots, reducing stability. Going forward, GBA plans to prioritise native, slow-growing species like Honge, Mahogany, and Mimusops (Ranje), which are believed to have stronger roots and better resilience to extreme weather.
Traffic Police Identify Dangerous Trees
In a letter to GBA, the joint commissioner of police (traffic), Karthik Reddy, shared a list of 404 trees and branches across the city that need to be cut, along with location and photos, and the city corporation concerned, requesting immediate action.
