Cyclone Tauktae: More than 100 trees fall in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, over 50 in Aarey colony

While park authorities and labourers have been clearing trees in SGNP, Aarey residents have been unsuccessfully trying to reach fire brigade for help

Cyclone Tauktae caused over 100 trees to collapse in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) and at least 50 in Aarey colony, where residents are having a hard time clearing them. Most of the fallen trees in SGNP were non-native species.

On Tuesday, during a visit to SGNP, mid-day observed that a majority of roads that connect the park to tribal hamlets had fallen trees. In the Nawapada and Suna Pada hamlets, trees collapsed on houses. At three places, huge trees collapsed on the quarters of three SGNP employees. The houses of Range Forest Officers (RFO) Vijay Barabde and Dines Desale also suffered tree collapses. Park authorities and labourers were busy removing them.

Also Read: Day after cyclone Tauktae: Uprooted by storm, trees crash on homes in Mumbai

SGNP Field Director and Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) G Mallikarjun said, “Fortunately, no one was injured. The work of clearing the fallen trees is in progress. We would know the exact figures in a day or two.”

Workers at SGNP clear fallen trees on Tuesday

The house of Kunal Kamble, who resides with his mother and father, an SGNP employee, was one of those affected. “Around 5 pm, we heard a loud noise and the ceiling came crashing down. We rushed out of the house with our neighbours’ help. My laptop and other things are damaged.”

At Aarey, tribals and other residents said they have been trying to reach the fire brigade but there has not been much help to clear the trees. At many places, residents themselves were clearing trees.

A large tree that was blown on to a structure at SGNP on Monday. Pic/Sameer Markande

Around 5 pm, a tree fell in the tribal hamlet of Vinchapada on Govind Gamre’s house. “Six of us were trapped in the house. Thankfully, we were rescued by alert neighbours. We have been trying to reach the fire brigade since Monday evening but did not receive help. So we started clearing the tree ourselves,” Gamre said.

Kunal Kamble shows the damage to his house in SGNP

Another resident, Wasim Athaniya, said, “A tree fell on a cattle farm at unit no. 28, damaging the structure. They, too, have been trying to reach the fire brigade but help hasn’t arrived.”

5 pm
Time on Monday a tree fell on Kunal Kamble’s house

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