Pune: In a tragic incident that took place in the court premises of Junnar on Friday (September 20), a large branch of an old banyan tree collapsed, leading to the unfortunate death of Chandrakant Kisan Hande,

aged 54. Hande, a resident of Umbraj Number Two in Junnar, had come to the court along with his sisters for legal proceedings.

The incident occurred in the afternoon, shocking the crowd present at the courthouse. Lawyers and bystanders immediately rushed to help and managed to remove the heavy branch that had fallen on Hande.

However, their efforts were in vain as Hande was declared dead upon arrival at the Junnar Rural Hospital. Medical officer Dr. Dilip Kokate confirmed that he had passed away before any medical intervention could be provided.

Chandrakant Hande leaves behind his wife, son, and daughter, who are now mourning the sudden loss of their loved one. The Junnar police have registered the case as an accidental death.

This tragic incident has sparked outrage among locals, especially since it was revealed that lawyers and court staff had earlier appealed to the Public Works Department to trim the unnecessary branches of the old banyan tree.

Despite these warnings, no action was taken, leading to the unfortunate event. This incident follows another recent accident in the Dhan Bazaar area, where a falling tree branch caused serious injury to a laborer, breaking his leg.