A 45-year-old man died in west Delhi’s Naraina after a peepal tree branch fell on him during pruning work, police said, adding an investigation is underway.
Man Dies After Tree Branch Falls in West Delhi
A 45-year-old man died after a branch from a Peepal tree (Ficus religiosa) fell on him while he was walking on a road in west Delhi’s Naraina area on Thursday.
The incident occurred during early morning pruning work. Police are verifying claims of barricading made by the Public Works Department (PWD).
The workers were pruning the tree, a task assigned by the PWD, when a branch fell on his head. The deceased, identified as Mukesh Kumar, was a tea seller and was on his way to work.
Details of the Incident
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Time of Incident | 6-7 AM |
| Location | Naraina, West Delhi |
| Victim’s Name | Mukesh Kumar |
| Victim’s Occupation | Tea Seller |
| Distance from Shop | 100 metres |
Senior officers said the pruning work was happening when the incident took place. DCP (west) Darade Sharad Bhaskar stated, “We were told that a man was injured after part of a tree fell on him. The man was immediately taken to RML Hospital by locals; however, he was declared brought dead by the doctors.”
Kumar was on his way to buy milk for his shop when the branch fell on him. A senior police officer noted, “The tree is very old and must be 20-30 feet tall. The branch hit Kumar on the head, and he collapsed. People rushed to help him, but it was too late. There was negligence from the staffer’s side.”
Police informed Kumar’s family about the incident and are waiting for them to receive the body. An FIR has been registered under sections of causing death by negligence against the staffers.
“We haven’t named anyone in the FIR. We are trying to ascertain which agency, contractor, and/or official was in charge of the work,” said another officer. Kumar sustained serious injuries and died at the spot. He had been running the tea cart for over 10 years and lived with his family near the shop.
Public Works Department Statement
Meanwhile, the PWD released an official statement saying that the victim had “forcibly” entered the restricted area where pruning was being done. The statement said, “This is an unfortunate incident, and our thoughts are with the bereaved family. As per the preliminary report from field staff, the area was fully barricaded, and pruning work was being carried out using a hydra machine with all necessary permissions in place for tree cutting.”
The PWD added, “Despite repeated warnings, the man forcibly entered the restricted zone. A thorough investigation has been ordered, and if any lapse is found on the part of the contractor or PWD officials, strict action will be taken against those responsible.”
Police are verifying the PWD’s allegations regarding barricading and forcible entry and are conducting an inquiry.
