Times News Network

Bangalore, Mar 8: Fate couldn't have dealt a more cruel blow. A first-year BCom student looking to celebrate her birthday soon would never have imagined that death lurked in those overhanging branches she often took shelter under.

In a freak incident on Tuesday March 7, the teenager was crushed to death under a dead branch that broke off a huge tree and crashed on her.

Around 1.30 pm, the 17-year-old Veena K G was taking a stroll with two friends after lunch in the sprawling Maharani's Arts College for Women campus when she was crushed by the huge branch.

"The girls became wary from the crackling sound of the breaking branch. They moved away, but Veena got caught," an eyewitness said. She sustained severe head injuries, while her two friends - Anita and Meenakshi - escaped uninjured.

The branch had crushed the girl's skull, a police officer said. Strong winds in the last few days could have weakened the dead branch, he added. Even as onlookers shrieked, Veena was lying in a pool of blood.

Just seconds later, some staff members and students rushed her in an autorickshaw to the nearby St Martha's Hospital. She was then taken to NIMHANS because of the head injury.

But she died on the way and was declared "brought dead" at NIMHANS. Veena was the daughter of Gururaj, an employee at the Postal Department. She was to celebrate her 18th birthday on March 25.

She was a resident of Arasinakunte near Nelamangala. Shortly after the incident, a pall of gloom descended onz the college campus where students huddled together in small groups.

"Veena was a very bright student. She was active and always cheerful. The incident has shocked all of us," said a faculty member.

Savitha, a final year student said; "We are shocked by the incident. It happened in the very place we usually sit in a large group. It is very unfortunate."...

Her parents and some close friends at the NIMHANS Hospital were unconsolable. Post-mortem would be conducted at the hospital on Wednesday March 8.

High Grounds police have registered a case of unnatural death. 'Time to wake up': The incident has raised concern over maintenance of trees in institutions across the city.