Pillion rider killed as tree branch falls on moving scooter in Thiruvananthapuram’s Palode

A 47-year-old man died after a tree branch fell on a moving scooter in the Palode area of Thiruvananthapuram, police said on Thursday, highlighting once again the dangers posed by ageing trees and weak branches along roads, especially during night hours.

The deceased was identified as Harsh Kumar, a native of Idinjar in Thenoor. The incident occurred around 10.30 pm on Wednesday near Mullachal when Kumar was travelling with his friend Joy after attending a wedding.

Police said that a large tree branch suddenly snapped and fell on the two-wheeler, striking Joy, who was seated as the pillion rider. Both men lost balance and suffered injuries in the impact.

They were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where Kumar, who sustained severe head injuries, later succumbed during treatment. Joy is currently undergoing treatment and is said to be out of danger.

Palode police have registered a case of unnatural death and initiated an investigation to ascertain the circumstances under which the branch fell.

Similar incidents involving falling trees and branches have been reported across Kerala in recent years, particularly during the monsoon season and periods of strong winds. In July last year, a motorcyclist was killed in Kochi after a rain-weakened tree collapsed onto a busy road during evening traffic.

In another incident in Kozhikode, a school student suffered serious injuries when a tree branch fell on an autorickshaw while it was passing through a residential area.

Authorities have also recorded cases where parked vehicles and pedestrians were injured due to falling branches from old or poorly maintained trees lining highways and city roads.

In Thiruvananthapuram itself, residents have repeatedly raised concerns about overgrown trees near arterial roads, warning that many pose a risk during heavy rain or at night when visibility is low.

Civic officials have said periodic inspections are carried out, and dangerous trees are pruned or removed based on complaints and technical assessments. However, locals argue that preventive action is often taken only after fatal accidents occur.

In the present case, police said the body of Harsh Kumar will be handed over to relatives after the postmortem examination. Meanwhile, the incident has renewed calls for stricter monitoring of roadside trees and quicker response to public complaints to prevent such avoidable tragedies.