A 50-year-old man died and his 22-year-old daughter was severely injured on Thursday morning after a large roadside neem tree uprooted and crashed onto vehicles moving slowly in rain-hit Kalkaji, Delhi, police said.
CCTV footage captured the moment the tree, located just inches from the footpath, suddenly gave way and collapsed onto unsuspecting commuters, striking multiple vehicles, including a motorcycle carrying the victims.
The woman was seen trapped between the two-wheeler and the fallen trunk as bystanders gathered with umbrellas and attempted to assist in rescue efforts, according to visuals from the scene.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari said the incident occurred around 9:50 a.m. near HDFC Bank at Paras Chowk, Kalkaji, where the old tree came down without warning.
The riders were identified as Sudhir Kumar (50) and his daughter Priya (22), residents of Tughlaqabad, who were pinned under the debris before being pulled out by responders, the DCP said.
Police added that Sudhir, a caretaker at a DUSIB night shelter in Old Delhi, succumbed to his injuries, while Priya was rushed for treatment and is currently admitted to Safdarjung Trauma Centre.
Local police responded promptly to a PCR call, initiated rescue operations, and arranged a JCB on priority to lift the tree, after which both victims were extricated and shifted to hospital via CATS ambulance, officials said.
The area was cordoned off and traffic regulated to prevent further disruption, with a hydraulic crane deployed to clear the carriageway, police added.
Municipal teams have been alerted to assess the site and undertake necessary pruning in the vicinity to mitigate the risk of similar incidents, authorities said.
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