Uprooted Trees Traffic Chaos in Kolkata: Kolkata was thrown into turmoil this week after heavy rains uprooted several trees across the city, causing massive traffic jams, road blockages, and renewed safety concerns. The incident, described by commuters as “chaotic and frustrating,” highlighted the dual challenge of preserving the city’s green cover while ensuring public safety during extreme weather events.
Uprooted Trees Traffic Chaos in Kolkata: What Happened
On Tuesday evening, torrential rainfall brought down more than a dozen full-grown trees across Kolkata. Major areas like Upper Wood Street, Cathedral Road, Theatre Road, and SP Mukherjee Road were badly affected. In Salt Lake, tall trees collapsed near the CGO complex and the Chinese Consulate, creating obstructions but fortunately sparing lives and property.
At Upper Wood Street, a large mango tree branch snapped and fell across the road, paralysing traffic for nearly three hours. The Disaster Management Group (DMG) of Kolkata Police was deployed to cut the branches and clear the way, but long queues of cars, buses, and motorcycles had already formed by then.
The chaos was not limited to central Kolkata. In Salt Lake, multiple uprooted trees blocked pathways and thoroughfares. While no injuries were reported, the sheer size of the trees made clearing operations difficult and time-consuming.
Uprooted Trees Traffic Chaos in Kolkata: Why Trees Are Falling
Experts and civic officials point to multiple reasons behind the rising incidents of tree collapses during storms:
1. Weak Soil in Urban Pockets
Areas like Salt Lake are particularly vulnerable due to their loose alluvial soil, which prevents deep anchorage of roots. Trees that appear stable can topple when soil becomes waterlogged.
2. Over-Saturation of Soil
With continuous rain, the ground loses grip on tree roots. Combined with gusty winds, even strong trees are destabilised.
3. Lack of Preventive Maintenance
Many old trees have hollow trunks, fungal infections, or leaning structures. Without regular inspection and pruning, these conditions go undetected until disaster strikes.
4. Urban Construction Stress
Encroachment around tree bases—pavements, road widening, underground cabling—has compacted soil and restricted root growth. This weakens natural stability over time.
Impact on Commuters
The uprooted trees led to city-wide traffic snarls. Vehicles were forced into diversions, emergency services faced delays, and daily commuters reported spending hours stuck on clogged roads.
- Upper Wood Street: Standstill traffic as vehicles backed up until branches were removed.
- Cathedral Road & Theatre Road: Overflow of traffic onto adjoining roads caused ripple-effect jams.
- SP Mukherjee Road: Morning peak hours saw hundreds of stranded office-goers.
- Salt Lake EC Block: Residents woke up to blocked driveways and inaccessible streets.
Public transport operators also reported significant losses. Auto drivers said trips had to be cancelled because routes were blocked, while buses diverted through longer stretches, wasting fuel and time.
Response by Authorities
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), along with the Disaster Management Group, worked overnight to restore traffic. Teams armed with chainsaws and cranes were dispatched to cut and remove trunks.
The Parks and Gardens Department of KMC has already been conducting inspections of tall trees in major corridors. Officials stated that “regular monitoring and pre-monsoon trimming” are being scaled up, but the sudden storm this week outpaced their preparedness.
The Kolkata Police Traffic Department urged commuters to follow live traffic updates through their official portal and avoid risky zones during heavy rainfall.
The Bigger Problem: Balancing Trees and Safety
Kolkata’s identity is closely tied to its lush greenery. Avenue trees, heritage banyans, and shaded boulevards are essential to the city’s ecosystem. Yet, the repeated collapse of trees raises the question: How can greenery be preserved without compromising safety?
Urban planners stress the importance of:
- Tree health audits with modern tools like ground-penetrating radar.
- Replacing dead or hollow trees with younger, resilient species.
- Allowing root breathing space by removing unnecessary concrete around bases.
- Preventive pruning before monsoon to reduce the weight load.
Lessons from Past Incidents
This is not the first time tree collapses have endangered lives in Kolkata. In past monsoons, fatal accidents have been reported when falling trees crushed vehicles or struck pedestrians. These incidents have already led to joint surveys by KMC and the West Bengal Forest Department, which identified hundreds of risky trees across the city.
A West Bengal Disaster Management Authority advisory also stresses preparedness for urban hazards like tree falls, especially in densely populated areas. However, ground execution often lags behind policy.
Public Safety and Awareness
Experts suggest that citizens too play a role in minimizing risks. People are advised not to park under tall, old trees during storms and to immediately report leaning trees to civic hotlines such as KMC’s grievance redressal system.
Additionally, awareness campaigns in schools, resident associations, and market areas could help spread precautionary measures.
Conclusion
The uprooted trees traffic chaos in Kolkata is a wake-up call. While nature cannot be controlled, preparedness can minimize damage. A combination of modern urban forestry practices, strict maintenance schedules, community awareness, and faster civic response is essential to strike a balance between greenery and safety.
As climate change brings more erratic and intense rainfall, Kolkata’s urban planning will need to evolve quickly—or the city will continue to see roads blocked, lives at risk, and commuters stranded whenever storms strike.
🔗 Relevant External Links:
- Kolkata Traffic Police – Real-time traffic updates and advisories.
- Kolkata Municipal Corporation – Civic body services, parks and gardens division.
- West Bengal Disaster Management Authority – State-level disaster preparedness and advisories.
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