A large tamarind tree fell across a road at the Kizhakombu Post Office junction in Koothattukulam on Thursday morning, damaging a nearby house, two parked motorcycles and two electricity poles, while narrowly missing two scooter riders.
The incident occurred at about 8am on the road leading from Kizhakombu Post Office junction towards Mangattambalam. The tree fell from a property beside the road, bringing down electricity wires and poles onto the carriageway. The sheet-roofed upper portion of the house belonging to Jacob Kurian of Moleparambil, Kizhakombu, was damaged.
Two motorcycles parked beside the road also sustained damage. The electricity wires and poles fell as two scooter riders approached the area. Kudu, a 45-year-old worker from Kolkata, was the first to reach the spot and escaped after leaving his vehicle on the road and running away from the falling infrastructure.
Kudu later attempted to return to collect his scooter, but local residents stopped him because the broken electricity wires were lying near the vehicle. The incident took place at a location where many people visit a nearby tea shop every day. The road is also used by school buses, children and other travellers.
Eyewitnesses Aneesh Kunnumpurath and Dennis Varghese said a branch first broke off and fell, followed by the main tree, which came down with a loud noise. Their account, as reported by Mathrubhumi, describes the tree falling in stages before blocking the road and damaging the adjacent property and electrical infrastructure.
Koothattukulam municipal chairperson Reji John and councillors P.C. Bhaskaran, Sheeba Raju and Sheela Binoy reached the site. The Koothattukulam fire and rescue team cut and removed the fallen tree, after which traffic was restored on the road.
The incident also left electricity poles and cables across a route used by pedestrians, school transport and local traffic. The reported response involved clearing the obstruction and restoring movement, while the damage to the house, motorcycles and electricity infrastructure was recorded at the site.
