On the morning of June 13, a little past 8.30 a.m., fear came crashing into Dr. M. Thanigai Vendan’s house on Thiruvengadam Street in RK Nagar in a thud of branches and leaves. Fortunately, there was no damage to limb, not a scratch. But the sight of a huge tree, an old Flame of the Forest, breaking their compound wall and damaging their car left the residents shell-shocked. They were clearly scarred in the mind. 

Two cars parked on the street were also damaged. 

This tree had been standing in a private property at RK Nagar Second Cross Street close to its junction with Thiruvengadam Street. 

Dr. Thanigai Vendan notes he had earlier informed Greater Chennai Corporation about the state of the tree and wanted it removed, but the word of caution was ignored. 

June 13 happened to be a holiday; one shudders to think of a scenario where people had been walking by at the time of the tree crash, coming under its earth-bound course.

Nearby on Thiruvengadam Street, a school is located. This should serve as a warning to Greater Chennai Corporation that it should act promptly on complaints about unsteady trees. 

(D. Vinothkumar is a resident of RK Nagar Second Cross Street.)