With heavy rain battering most parts of the Nilgiris, especially the Upper Bhavani and Mukurthi areas, many trees along the stretch of road between Udhagamandalam and Manjoor have been uprooted, posing risk to motorists.
Local residents, who regularly travel on the road, said that there were at least three locations along the stretch between Kaikatty and Manjoor, where the uprooted trees hover menacingly over the road, being at risk of falling onto oncoming vehicles and pedestrians.
S.V. Ganesan, a resident, said that there had been instances when trees had fallen on buses along the highway leading to Udhagamandalam a few years ago, injuring people in the process.
“As the route is also not very well lit, it is treacherous for motorcyclists at night, especially during rain,” he added. He urged the Highways Department to remove not just the uprooted trees but also other trees belonging to the eucalyptus, wattle and blue gum varieties which were at risk of falling.
Locals said that there were anywhere between 15 and 20 trees belonging to invasive tree species along the stretch that needed removal. “Some arch menacingly over the road and creak under their own weight during spells of heavy rain and winds, which can be quiet disconcerting,” said B. Suman, a resident of the Nilgiris who frequently travels the stretch.
