Kalyanpur, Dec 8: Panic gripped Shantirnagar Bazar under Durgapur Gram Panchayat on Monday after an old banyan tree suddenly crashed onto a ration shop, leaving the dealer and several beneficiaries trapped beneath the debris.
Ration dealer Umapada Das and a few others were caught under the huge branches when the tree collapsed without warning. Alert locals rushed in and managed to rescue all of them in time. Fortunately, no loss of life was reported.
Local residents alleged that the tree had remained in a dangerously weak condition for a long period. Despite repeated appeals to the Forest Department through the Panchayat, no action was taken, they claimed.
The incident has triggered serious concern among villagers, who are now questioning responsibility and urging the authorities to immediately identify and remove other dangerous trees in public areas.
