Temple visit on Guru Purnima ends in tragedy after tree falls on headmaster in Bengaluru

On Guru Purnima, a tree collapsed on Balaji T, a 58-year-old headmaster of a government school in Ramanagara, near Attiguppe Metro station in Bengaluru.

Balaji suffered a severe spinal injury and underwent major spinal surgery; he has no sensation below the waist.

The tree fell around 1:30pm near Bunts Sangha in Vijayanagar as Balaji was returning from a temple; he stopped to speak with a student, Rohini, who sustained a minor head injury.

Residents had complained about the dangerous tree, whose base was covered with concrete, weakening it, according to T Ramu, secretary of Vijayanagar Citizens’ Forum.

Chandra Layout police initiated an inquiry; the family faces medical expenses over Rs 4.5 lakh, with government insurance covering only about Rs 2 lakh.