‘Dangerous’ trees posing risk to people? Meghalaya has helplines for cutting them
The Meghalaya forest department provided three helpline numbers for people to inform about trees that pose a risk to commuters, and to avoid accidents.
Uttar Pradesh has 1090, a helpline for women in distress. Delhi has 1094 for missing children and women, 1096 for crime against women, and 1097 against extortion.
There are helplines for animals in distress and those in danger of committing suicides as well. Meghalaya now has a helpline for felling trees.
The state’s forest department on Monday announced three dedicated mobile phone numbers for “cutting dangerous trees”.
“We have provided the helpline numbers for people to inform about trees that pose a risk to commuters. This is to avoid more accidents,” forest minister Clement Marak said.
The state’s principal chief conservator of forest CP Marak said his department has identified about 80 potentially dangerous trees in Shillong for trimming and felling.
This follows the death of three people in a car that was crushed by a massive tree in state capital Shillong on Saturday.
The tree was on the edge of the Raj Bhavan compound.
Saturday’s accident claimed the lives of 70-year-old Paul LB Lyngdoh, 23-year-old Crystal Gayle Kharnaior, and Hubert Swer, the 35-year-old taxi driver.
The Meghalaya government announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to the family of each of the victims besides deciding to take care of the treatment of two of the other occupants of the car who were injured.
“The money would be provided from the state disaster fund,” East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner PS Dkhar said.