Storm Causes Devastation for Former Delhi Sprinter Sangeeta Kumar

A Stormy Morning Turns Tragic

On a stormy Friday morning, Sangeeta Kumar, a former sprinter from Delhi, faced her worst nightmare when a massive tree crashed onto her home in Shahpur Jat. This incident forced her family to flee, desperately seeking help to save their two-story residence.

Initially, Sangeeta feared for her husband’s safety upon hearing the loud crash of the tree. He had just stepped outside to check on their property after a thunderstorm swept through Delhi.

Rushing out with her two children, Sangeeta found her husband, Krishan Kumar, visibly shaken but unharmed, sitting with his head in his hands after narrowly escaping the falling tree.

‘He was in shock, thinking the tree had struck us, while we feared for his safety. Thankfully, no one was injured, but our home appears to be badly damaged,’ Sangeeta recounted.

‘I had been dreading this situation. The tree, located in the government school across from our house, was infested with termites and leaning dangerously towards us. I had requested its removal, but the school principal refused to act,’ she explained.

Sangeeta, 42, who once competed alongside the renowned PT Usha in relay events, expressed her concerns, stating, ‘I fear our house won’t withstand this.’

The hours following the incident were a nightmare for Sangeeta and her family, as BSES officials arrived around 1:00 PM.

‘We reached out to many, including local BJP MLA Shikha Rai, but she claimed it wasn’t her responsibility to remove the tree. We managed to disconnect the power supply ourselves,’ Sangeeta shared.

Living in a joint family of 16-17 members, they found themselves on the street, unsure of how to handle the crisis. Although people gathered, no one knew how to assist them.

‘My children haven’t eaten since morning, and neither have we. I’m at a loss for how to cope. It seems our house may not survive,’ she said, her voice filled with fear.