Kolkata: A large tree collapsed near the State Bank of India (SBI) building on Friday, triggering a three-hour traffic blockade on Strand Road in central Kolkata that acts as a crucial link to Howrah station and Burrabazar.The incident, which occurred during a spell of heavy rain, forced authorities to immediately divert all vehicles heading towards the Howrah Bridge.The civic body’s drainage department officials found it difficult to remove storm water from portions of the Strand Road.Presence of a high tide in the Hooghly complicated the waterlogging scenario.Traffic police personnel quickly rerouted public buses via Old Court House Street, while smaller vehicles and two-wheelers were directed through Council House Street. Disaster Management Group (DMG) and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) workers rushed to the spot, working at a brisk pace in the downpour to chop and clear the branches. A local commuter, Rajesh Gupta, said police reached the place and helped to get the traffic moving, after the tree had fallen and there was a sound. Although traffic moved more slowly, traffic personnel prevented major snarls.
