SC seeks Himachal’s response on flood damage and floating timber after cloudburst

September 4, 2025

Shimla, Sep 4: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a notice to the Himachal government expressing concern over heavy rains and floods. The SC has sought a reply from the state government within three weeks. The court has taken cognizance of the wood that has been carried away by rivers due to heavy rains in Himachal in the past few days.

Chief Justice BR Gavai said, this is a serious matter. The media showed how the wood came floating. Now the state government will have to answer this in the next hearing. Along with Himachal, notice has also been issued to Punjab, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir.

Let us tell you that due to the flood caused by cloudburst in Kullu, Himachal on June 24, hundreds of tons of wood reached the Pandoh Dam. After this scene came to light, it was made viral on social media by linking it to illegal cutting of trees in ‘Pushpa style’. This also raised questions on the functioning of the forest department and the government.

After this, the forest department immediately set up an inquiry. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Sanjay Sood said that no irregularities were found in the inquiry. These were the girls who reached Pandoh Dam after being broken by the flash flood.

Reached Pandoh Dam after cloudburst on 24th June

Let us tell you that on 24th June, cloudburst had occurred at 4 places in Kullu district, after which hundreds of tonnes of wood came from Gadsa valley after heavy rains in the higher regions, which reached the Pandoh Dam built on the Beas River. After seeing these woods, the forest department got badly cornered on social media and questions are being raised on the functioning of the department. Social media users are linking it to Pushpa style.

Heavy floods, cloudbursts and landslides are causing heavy losses in the state. There have been 127 incidents of major landslides, 95 incidents of floods and 45 incidents of cloudbursts in the state, which have caused heavy losses. 50 people have died due to floods, cloudbursts and landslides, while 43 people are missing.

Private and government property worth Rs 3690 crore has been destroyed in the state.