Dry trees pose a threat in Gorakhpur, the department is waiting for an accident.

News Topical, Digital Desk : Dry and dilapidated trees standing on the roadsides in the district are constantly inviting accidents, but the responsible department remains indifferent. On Wednesday, Jitendra Shukla, a resident of Hanuman Mandir, Tulsiram Bichhiya, Shahpur area, died after a jackfruit tree fell near the North Eastern Railway General Manager's office, while his companion Pramod Pal was seriously injured. Both were returning home on a bike when the tree suddenly fell on them.

On Thursday, a tree also fell on vehicles parked behind the Golghar police post. Fortunately, no one was inside the vehicle at the time, which averted loss of life, although the vehicles were damaged. After this, the police informed the concerned department and had the tree cut and removed from the spot.

These incidents are just examples. Dead trees have been standing on various roads in the district for years, capable of falling at any time and causing a major accident. A tree in front of the liquor shops near Banauli village on the Sihorwa-Jungle Kaudiya road has been standing dry for nearly a year.

Local people say that it can fall anytime in strong wind. About 46 trees have dried up on the Gola to Kaudiram road till Janipur market. Most of the trees have been cut down during road widening on the Ram-Janaki road going from Barhalganj to Gorakhpur and Patna Ghat via Barhaj-Deoria, while dozens of the remaining trees have dried up and are standing on the roadside. 25

to 30 trees are dried up and standing in dilapidated condition on the Belghat-Sikriganj road, Majhgawan road and between Kuri to Sikriganj. About half a dozen dry trees are standing in Sahajanwa tehsil area, GIDA Sector-26, in front of the liquor distillery in Bhiti Rawat, on the way from Chakia Tiraha to Kasarwal under bridge to Maghar.

A tree stands dry on the four-lane road near Chakia. A tree has dried up at the Dhebra intersection in Sikriganj. Falling on the shops beneath it could cause an accident. Dead trees pose a threat at many locations, including the Gagaha-Gajpur road. A dead tree standing for years on the Hata-Aswanpar link road in the Gagaha area is also inviting accidents.

Similarly, dead and decaying trees stand on other roads as well. Whenever locals ask the Forest Department to cut down trees, the department cites regulations and says the Forest Corporation is responsible for the felling. However, the question is how many more accidents will occur until the permitting process is complete.

Read More: Dry trees pose a threat in Gorakhpur, the department is waiting for an accident.