Narrow escape for TGOA leader as burnt tree falls on car

Stubble burning in Khammam district led to a narrow escape for TGO Association leader Eluri Srinivas Rao after a burnt roadside tree fell on his car, causing it to overturn. The incident highlights growing safety risks from crop residue burning

Khammam: Stubble burning by farmers in the district has been proving costly for public safety, with TGO Association State president Eluri Srinivas Rao having a narrow escape as his car turned turtle after a roadside burnt tree fell on the car.

The incident took place at Rebbavaram village of Wyra mandal on Thursday when he was travelling with his family. It was said that unidentified persons set fire to crop residue in a field by the side of the road, weakening a tree that had also caught fire.

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Just as Srinivasa Rao’s car was passing through the area, a massive branch of the tree snapped and crashed onto the vehicle. Consequently, the car lost control and overturned on the road.

Although the car’s windows were completely shattered and the vehicle was badly damaged, none of the occupants suffered injuries. Srinivas Rao and others in the car were safely rescued.

It might be recalled that four days ago, an RTC bus going from Wyra to Madhira hit a diesel tanker from behind at Paladugu near Wyra, injuring six persons including driver and conductor. The incident occurred as thick smoke caused by stubble burning in the fields reduced visibility forcing the tanker and other vehicles to stop on the road abruptly.

Despite appeals from police and agriculture officials not to burn crop residue in the fields, farmers have been resorting to stubble burning.

A few days ago, a large number of sheep perished and farm produce was damaged due to stubble burning in Chintakani mandal.

In another incident on the same day, nearly 100 coconut trees belonging to a farmer, Bhukya Lalu Naik, were damaged at Garlavoddu village of Enkoor mandal as a neighbouring farmer set crop residue in his field on fire. Water pipelines and electricity starters were also burnt in the incident.