GBA to pay Rs 15 lakh to motorist injured by falling tree branch in Rajajinagar

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is preparing to pay nearly Rs 15 lakh in compensation to a 53-year-old motorist who was critically injured when a dried tree branch fell on him near Ram Mandir Road in Rajajinagar on June 24. The victim, an employee of a finance company, was riding his motorcycle when the incident occurred.

The compensation will be released from the civic body’s disaster management fund to help cover the victim’s medical expenses. According to GBA sources, a senior official visited the hospital where the victim is being treated. Preliminary estimates from the hospital project the total cost of treatment to reach approximately Rs 18 lakh. The injured motorist has health insurance that will cover Rs 3 lakh, with the GBA set to bear the remaining Rs 15 lakh. To date, the treatment bill has already exceeded Rs 7 lakh.

The accident has brought Bengaluru’s tree safety measures and pre-monsoon maintenance under intense scrutiny. The incident happened despite a pre-monsoon tree maintenance drive conducted by the civic body. Between April 29 and May 29, the Forest Department recorded more than 3,000 incidents of falling trees and branches across Bengaluru. These falls occurred despite multiple surveys and maintenance activities carried out by the city's five corporations during the first three months of the year.

Local tree activists and experts have pointed out that the responsibility for identifying and reporting dead, diseased, or hazardous trees should not rely solely on the Forest Department, which is currently facing a severe shortage of manpower. Activists suggest that ward engineers and road infrastructure teams should be tasked with identifying dangerous trees and branches within their areas. They can submit requests through Form I under the Karnataka Tree (Preservation) Act to prompt inspections and action by the Forest Department.

Currently, the Forest Department, operating under the GBA's Forest, Environment and Climate Change Cell, has a staff strength of only 20 officials. This team comprises eight Range Forest Officers, nine Deputy Range Forest Officers, two Assistant Conservators of Forests, and one Deputy Conservator of Forests.

While the staff strength was recently increased from 14 officials after five Range Forest Officers were posted to the West, Central, East, and North city corporation offices, officials acknowledge the department remains severely understaffed. This shortage makes it difficult to conduct routine inspections, maintenance, and emergency responses across the city.