Decades-old tree uprooted by gusty winds narrowly misses children in Secunderabad

A decades-old tree was uprooted by strong winds outside a private school in Secunderabad, narrowly missing children waiting after school. Several vehicles were damaged, while residents criticised the GHMC's response despite TGSPDCL officials acting swiftly to prevent power-related hazards.

Hyderabad: A decades-old tree was uprooted by gusty winds on Monday evening in Secunderabad, narrowly missing children outside a private school in Sitaphalmandi.

The incident occurred opposite Kakatiya School in Indira Nagar Colony, Warasiguda, while students were waiting after school hours for their parents to pick them up. Gripped by fear, children ran for safety as the tree came crashing down, some while heading home and others who were still on the school premises.

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According to locals, several parked autos and two-wheelers were damaged. While no loss of life or injuries were reported, residents noted that given the severity of the fall, the incident could have easily turned tragic.

TGSPDCL officials reached the spot promptly and took measures to ensure the local power supply remained uninterrupted. Locals praised the department’s swift response, noting it prevented snapped power lines from becoming an immediate hazard.

Residents, however, voiced anger over the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s (GHMC) response. The residents alleged that after informing the GHMC emergency wing, they were simply directed to contact HYDRAA’s Disaster Response Force (DRF) team. Locals stated that the runaround reflected negligence from an agency, which is expected to provide immediate relief during emergencies.