Mysuru:  Many two-wheelers are regularly skidding on the Valmiki Road-Hunsur Road junction near a petrol pump on the Mysuru-Hunsur Road.

The culprit is a tree — Raintree Seedpod or Ablizia Saman (locally called Chatri Mara or Bage Kai Mara) — whose seeds, when crushed under vehicles and mixed with water, makes the road slippery. This particular stretch of the road becomes slippery every morning as many leaky water tankers pass through the road, splashing water all over the road. The water then mixes with the crushed seeds making the road slippery.

Star of Mysore received many calls from two-wheeler riders who said that they have sustained injuries after skidding on the road. There is usually a home guard who mans the junction as the traffic lights there are defunct since a long time.

“In the morning we are in a hurry to reach office and our vehicles slip as we take a turn from Valmiki Road towards Kalamandira. The least authorities can do is prevent leakage from the water tanks. I saw that most of the water tankers are owned by Vani Vilas Water Works,” said Sushmitha, who fell from her two-wheeler.

Ganesh, a resident of Jayalakshmipuram, skidded on the road and fell from his bike yesterday morning. He was followed by two women and three men who also skidded at the spot. Luckily, all suffered minor bruises. “I fell down when I pulled the brakes in the turn. As soon as I fell, a woman behind me skidded,” he said.

According to Horticulturists, the problem of two-wheeler riders skidding in is due to seed capsules getting soggy when mixed with water.

“There is no solution to the problem. When the trees were planted, no one studied which tree should be planted where. It was a random process. Trees which are meant for commuter’s shade and safety are now turning to be a menace. The riders must be careful,”  said a Horticulturist.