New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the Centre and the states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Punjab after observing that illegal felling of trees may have contributed to the widespread floods and landslides ravaging northern India.
Court Observes Link Between Deforestation and Floods
A bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran made the observations while hearing a petition filed by Anamika Rana. The plea alleged that indiscriminate destruction of greenery in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem was responsible for the devastation.
“We have seen unprecedented landslides and floods in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. From media reports, it appears a huge number of felled logs were flowing in the floods. Prima facie it seems there has been illegal felling of trees,” the CJI said. The bench directed the respondents, including the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), to respond within two weeks.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was asked to ensure immediate remedial measures to prevent further damage.
Himachal, J&K and Punjab Reeling Under Rain Fury
Incessant rainfall has triggered landslides, flash floods, and slope destabilisation across Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra remains suspended for the tenth consecutive day due to landslide risks along the pilgrimage route. Schools across Jammu division have been shut, with online classes planned to reduce disruption.
In J&K’s Reasi district, a massive landslide near the Vaishno Devi temple claimed over 30 lives, adding to the toll of recent rain-related disasters. Rescue teams from the Shrine Board, NDRF, and SDRF continue relief operations, prioritising pilgrim safety before resuming the yatra.
Punjab too is facing one of its worst flood crises in decades. The overflowing Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers, along with swollen rivulets, have inundated over 1,600 villages. Gurdaspur district has been worst-hit, with more than 324 villages submerged.
Severe Agricultural and Human Impact
According to state officials, nearly 1.75 lakh hectares of farmland in Punjab stand submerged, with Gurdaspur alone losing over 40,000 hectares of crops. Other severely affected districts include Amritsar, Kapurthala, Sangrur, and Fazilka.
So far, the floods have claimed at least 37 lives in Punjab, affecting over 3.5 lakh people. More than 19,000 residents have been evacuated, with 167 relief camps operating across the state. Authorities have even deployed drones in Amritsar to deliver food and supplies to marooned families.
Fresh downpours in the region have worsened the situation, heightening risks in low-lying areas of Rupnagar and Anandpur Sahib. Several villages remain on high alert as swollen rivers continue to threaten further flooding.
