Strong winds lashed the city on Thursday afternoon, uprooting trees in several places, causing damage to houses and disrupting traffic along many major and minor roads. Electric poles also fell at some places.
The Fire and Rescue Services pressed into service units from its six fire stations; in Chenkalchoola, Chackai, Neyyatinkara, Vizhinjam, Nedumangad and Kattakkada. According to officials, of the 35 trees that were uprooted, the firemen had sawed through 33 until Thursday evening.
“The trees that fell dangerously were chopped off by us. Some other trees avoided, as it was difficult to make the machine work,” said R Prasad, divisional officer of the Fire and Rescue Services.
At Anayara and Koliyoor, trees fell over two houses. However, none was reported hurt.
Causing inconvenience to motorists, traffic was disrupted along Peroorkada-Mannamoola Road, PMG Junction, General Hospital Junction, Althara, Kochar Road, Power House Road, near Central Jail, Poojappura and near Forest headquarters at Vazhuthacaud as trees fell across the road. At Pachalloor, a tree fell over an 11 KV electric line.
Whereas, in some areas, parked vehicles got damaged as trees fell on them. According to the Fire and Rescue Service officials, most of the damage reported was minor.