A shocking CCTV video from Bengaluru has raised serious questions about the maintenance of roadside trees after a 52-year-old motorcyclist was left seriously injured when a dried tree branch suddenly fell on his head.
Last week, Satish, a finance collections officer at Rajajinagar’s Ram Mandir Road, was on his motorcycle waiting to collect payments when the accident occurred. The surprise accident, which is recorded on a nearby CCTV camera, has been met with great public concern that people lack the sense of safety and civic ignorance.
How the Accident Happened
According to the information available, a dried branch snapped off a roadside tree, probably due to strong winds, and fell directly onto Satish as he was passing by on his motorcycle.The impact threw him off the bike and he collapsed on the road. CCTV footage of the incident shows how quickly the accident occurred; viewers are left stunned by how quickly it happened.
The local people immediately rushed to his aid and took him to a nearby hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was transferred to Manipal Hospital, Yeshwanthpur, for emergency head surgery. Satish is still in a coma and doctors have informed them that the next 48 hours are critical, his family said. They added that it’s too early to predict his recovery yet.
Rajajinagara 🚨⚠️
— Dave (Road Safety: City & Highways) (@motordave2) June 26, 2026
Disturbing Visuals 🚨
Always wear full face good quality helmets which can save head & jaw…dried tree branches can be absolutely risky…even those Rs. 100 plastic caps won’t help!
Also, this clip showcasing number of plastic caps ⛑️ in use + kid on… pic.twitter.com/gq8yLwJEpT
Residents Blame Negligence, Demand Accountability
All of that anger has been felt by residents of the area who said they had warned authorities of the danger of roadside trees. Some dried branches were still hanging from the trees, locals told us that some dried branches had been hanging from the trees for weeks, and despite many complaints, they are still hanging on the trees, they said, a constant danger to commuters and pedestrians, they said.
Residents say the Forest Department did not do proper pruning or remove dangerous branches and the risk remained until the accident took place. The incident has renewed calls for regular inspections and maintenance of roadside trees, especially during the monsoon season when strong winds and heavy rain increase the risk of weakened branches collapsing.
A Wake-Up Call for Civic Authorities
The near-fatal accident once again proved that preventive maintenance is necessary in cities. Roadside trees are important to maintain the city but experts have said that regular checks and removing dead and weakened branches will prevent such accidents.
In the meantime, as Satish struggles to hold on to his life, the CCTV footage has galvanized public demands for accountability and proactive measures to ensure that neglected roadside trees are not a threat to commuters and pedestrians in Bengaluru.
