Gulmohar branch, illumination arch crash near Palace, Gun House Circle

Mysuru: With just a week to go for the Dasara festivities, two separate incidents near the Mysore Palace and Gun House Circle yesterday raised safety concerns, though no casualties were reported.

A large branch of a Gulmohar tree suddenly snapped near the Palace and fell across the road leading from KarikalluThotti Gate to Varahaswamy Temple. Tourists who had just finished visiting the Palace and heading towards the shops near Amba Vilas Gate had a narrow escape.

On hearing the cracking sound, visitors ran to safety. Two parked vehicles were damaged in the incident. Police personnel on duty immediately moved tourists to a safe area and cleared the fallen branch, allowing traffic to resume.

Cut-out arch collapses

Meanwhile, at Gun House Circle, a large iron arch erected as part of the Dasara illumination arrangements collapsed.

The structure, measuring about 35-40 feet in height, had been made of iron pipes and rods and anchored in pits about half a foot deep. Around noon, the arch toppled, with the pipes and rods falling on a TT vehicle that had arrived to pick up school children.

The driver had a narrow escape, though the vehicle was damaged.

The incident occurred when the Palace and surrounding areas were crowded with weekend tourists. Fortunately, there were no pedestrians on the road when the arch collapsed, averting a possible tragedy.

The two incidents have raised concerns over safety arrangements amid preparations for Dasara, particularly the stability of temporary structures being erected for the festival. With thousands of visitors expected during the celebrations, questions have also been raised over the safety of tourists and motorists.