By IANS,
Ranchi : A rare medicinal tree, which is over 150 years old, was uprooted for the second time in 13 months due to heavy rainfall in Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi.
Baobab, also known as Kalpataru, is a rare medicinal tree. In India, there are only nine such trees. Of the nine, five are found in Ranchi’s Doranda area.
The tree, which is worshipped by people, was uprooted Thursday.
“We will do our best to re-plant the tree. Our effort is to protect the heritage tree,” said Mahendra Kardam, a forest official of Ranchi.
Having a diameter of three meters, the same baobab tree was earlier uprooted in April last year and remained on the ground for three months.
Driven by belief of spiritual power of the tree, people did not cut the branches of the fallen tree.
Forest officials re-planted the baobab tree in July last year.
The tree showed signs of life as it started responding with seasonal change. Leaves started sprouting on the branches of the tree.
According to forest officials, the fallen baobab tree is over 150-years-old.
Experts say the tree has origin in African countries and its bark is used to prepare medicines.
In African countries, the diameter of the baobab tree varies between five and seven metres. Once it dries up, the hollow part of the tree is used as a natural hut by some African tribes.