In a tragic incident on Wednesday afternoon, two eucalyptus trees fell on local vendors and shoppers at the famous Dimapur Super Market. Two people lost their lives while six were injured. A pregnant woman was among those injured and she was said to be in critical condition.

Standing tall along the stretch of the Super Market Lane, the eucalyptus trees are synonymous with the market itself. For decades, the trees have been giving vendors and shoppers respite from the sun while adding aesthetic beauty to the area.

On 12 October, it was business as usual at the busiest marketplace. Vendors were selling their products that included vegetables and fruit, clothes, flowers, traditional handmade goods and household items while customers were checking, bargaining and buying the various items. But the ambience changed around 3pm when a gust of wind suddenly uprooted two of the eucalyptus trees on them.

Sources have reported that the gust of wind was not all that threatening but the trees were the ones that needed attending from local authorities.

The fallen eucalyptus tree being cleared by authorities at the Super Market area in Dimapur on 12 October. NT photos.

It may be pointed out that concerned Dimapur residents had been voicing out the need to remove the eucalyptus trees entirely from the area. In fact, a proposal was recently presented at the Dimapur District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) meeting held in August to remove the “hazardous eucalyptus trees near Super Market area”.

Yesterday’s unfortunate incident was not a warning. There had been several warnings, and close ones too, but authorities simply refused to take heed of them.

For the families of the victims, those trees will now be reminders of death and pain. But have the trees done any wrong? Who is accountable for those deaths and injuries? Will vendors have to continue risking their lives to earn their livelihoods?