Youth killed, friend injured as tree falls on scooter

A student was killed after a decayed and weakened tree’s branch fell on a two-wheeler on the Ring Road in Kadirenahalli near KS Layout on Saturday night.

The pillion rider, however, escaped with minor injuries.

Deceased Umar Pasha (17), was a 1st year PUC student in a private college. Pasha’s parents Siraj Pasha and Delnaaz Begum are residents of Ilyas Nagar.

The locals and Pasha’s family members staged a protest blaming the BBMP’s negligence for the mishap. Tension prevailed and traffic was also affected for a while on Sunday morning.

According to the police, Pasha was riding his scooter and his friend Mohammed Mateen (17), was riding pillion. They were returning home from Yarabnagar. Around 9.30 pm, near Kadirenahalli, a tree, infested by insects on the roots, fell on the scooter. Pasha suffered grievous injuries and died on the spot. Passersby told the police that Pasha would not have died, if he were wearing a helmet.

In fact, both riders were not wearing helmets. Mateen escaped with minor injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital. Pasha’s body was handed over to his parents after the postmortem at KIMS.

BBMP Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun visited the spot and announced Rs 10 lakh compensation to Pasha’s family. S Ansar Pasha, the Banashankari ward corporator said he had directed the BBMP staff to remove such infected trees.

Injured Mateen said, soon after the accident, he lost consciousness.

“I was rushed to hospital by an auto driver. He saved my life. Pasha and me are childhood friends and we were returning from a friend’s house after collecting notes. I am shocked to hear my friend is no more.

Kumaraswamy Layout police have taken up the case and are investigating.