Driver killed after tree falls on autorickshaw during rain in Bengaluru

The autorickshaw that was crushed after a tree fell on it owing to rain in Bengaluru on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: special arrangement

A 45-year-old autorickshaw driver died after a tree fell on his moving vehicle on Thursday. The incident occurred around 7.30 p.m. near a bus shelter on Kathriguppe Main Road in Banashankari in South Bengaluru.

The victim has been identified as Mahesh, a resident of Ittamadu. According to preliminary reports from the Bengaluru City Police, Mahesh was driving past the 43A bus stop when the tree suddenly fell down, crushing his vehicle, and leaving him trapped inside.

Emergency services were immediately alerted, but Mahesh succumbed to his injuries at the scene. A case of unnatural death has been registered, and his family has filed an official complaint with the local police.

Officials from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said that the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) was deployed to the location shortly after the incident was reported.

A senior BBMP official told The Hindu: “We are coordinating with all departments to assess the damage and will provide compensation to the bereaved family as per established guidelines.”

The city experienced a spell of moderate rainfall accompanied by lightning and gusty winds, with wind speeds reaching up to 17 knots. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that Bengaluru will continue to receive light to moderate rainfall through May 3. In some parts of the city, particularly Banashankari, residents were taken by surprise as hailstorms accompanied the downpour.

In a separate case, a large tree fell on a parked car near a cafe in Koramangala. Fortunately, no one was inside the vehicle at the time, and there were no reported injuries, although the car sustained significant damage.

Flooding

Heavy rain also led to flooding in several areas of southern Bengaluru, with underpasses and arterial roads becoming difficult to navigate.

Inundation was severe near the Yelachenahalli metro station, causing traffic disruptions. BBMP officials added that teams were dispatched to clear blocked drains and remove fallen trees as part of emergency response operations.

According to the data shared by the BBMP, a total of 10 cases of tree-fall were reported on Thursday.