In a striking example of journalism spurring action, the Kangra district administration acted swiftly after The Tribune’s June 10 report titled “Hanging by a thread” spotlighted a rotting tree trunk precariously suspended above a busy pedestrian path.
For over 10 days, the decaying tree hung ominously near the Central University, along the road leading to the international cricket stadium—an accident waiting to happen. Hundreds of students, teachers and commuters passed beneath it daily, casting wary glances overhead and fearing the worst.
Despite a recent mock disaster drill in town, the looming danger had gone unnoticed until The Tribune’s exposé triggered concern in the administration. Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa immediately instructed the Municipal Corporation to remove the threat.
By afternoon, the buzz of chainsaws echoed through the air. Ropes pulled tight as municipal workers, under close supervision, safely dismantled the trunk. Onlookers recorded the moment, relieved yet unsettled. “Better late than never,” commented a local professor, “but this was a disaster in waiting.”
Taking serious note, DC Bairwa has directed all departments to remain vigilant, especially with monsoon season approaching. The incident may be over, but it left behind a sobering message: when safety hangs by a thread, delay can be deadly.
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