Mohali:
Large and heavy Balam Kheera (African Sausage Tree) fruits hanging from roadside trees across various parts of Mohali have become a serious public safety concern, posing an open invitation to accidents. Weighing between 2 and 5 kilograms, and sometimes even more, these massive fruits can fall unexpectedly from a considerable height, endangering pedestrians, cyclists, two-wheeler riders, motorists, and parked vehicles.
Residents and daily commuters have expressed concern over several such trees located along busy stretches of road, particularly from Phase-1 towards YPS Chowk and from Chawla Hospital towards Mattaur. A falling fruit has the potential to shatter a vehicle’s windshield, damage property, or cause serious injuries, especially during peak traffic hours. Similar concerns have been raised in Mohali in the past, prompting authorities to remove the fruits from trees as a preventive measure.
With the monsoon season bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall, the risk of these oversized fruits falling without warning has increased significantly. Residents urged the Municipal Corporation Mohali and GMADA to immediately identify such trees, remove the hanging fruits, and conduct regular inspections to prevent any untoward incident.
Residents have appealed to the authorities to act before a tragedy occurs, emphasizing that preventive measures are always better than responding after an accident. But Who Cares??
