Uprooted Deodar tree blocks road near CM's official residence in Shimla; More trees pose risk, says local councillor
Shimla, August 1
A deodar tree uprooted by heavy rain blocked the road near Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's official residence, Oak Over, in Shimla on Saturday evening, as persistent monsoon showers continued to disrupt normal life across Himachal Pradesh.
The road was blocked after the tree fell on the stretch adjacent to Oak Over. Restoration work was initiated immediately, and authorities were working to clear the route.
Speaking to ANI, Sheenam Kataria, local councillor of Shimla's Banmore area, said the incident was reported at around 4 pm and expressed concern over the condition of several other trees in the vicinity.
"I received information around 4 pm that two trees had fallen near Oak Over Park. Around ten days ago, a tree had fallen on the other side, and now another has fallen here. There are two to three more trees that appear to be dangerous," Kataria said.
She said the Forest Department had been informed and was responding to the situation, adding that efforts were underway to restore traffic at the earliest.
"The road is motorable and an important route, so it is essential to clear it quickly. We expect the road to be reopened within an hour," she said.
Kataria said representations had already been made to the authorities regarding hazardous trees in the area and urged preventive action before the monsoon season.
"We had submitted an application identifying dangerous trees. There are about five dry trees inside Oak Over Park that need to be removed. I hope the Forest Department takes timely action before such incidents recur," she added.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the current spell of rainfall is likely to continue, with heavy showers affecting several parts of Himachal Pradesh and disrupting normal life across the state.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is such a common issue in mountain towns worldwide. Climate change is making these patterns more unpredictable, and Himalayan towns are bearing the brunt. I hope the authorities take the councillor's concerns seriously and also look at long-term solutions like better tree management and infrastructure.
Good to see the local councillor Sheenam Kataria being so alert and proactive. But this is a systemic failure - why are these dangerous trees not removed before monsoon? Also sad that this happens near the CM's house only because it gets attention. What about other vulnerable spots in Shimla? 🤔
It's not just oak over park, Shimla has dozens of old deodar trees that are a risk. The Forest Department needs to do a scientific survey of dangerous trees across the city and remove them before they become a tragedy. The councillor's concern is very valid.
Meanwhile the infrastructure in hill stations keeps getting weaker due to unchecked construction. Trees falling are a symptom of deeper environmental issues. We talk about development but not about sustainability. The CM needs to also have a serious conversation about hill town vulnerability during monsoons. 🌧️
Let's not forget the maintenance of deodar trees - these aren't just any trees, they are heritage. But since when did we start waiting for trees to fall to act? The councillor said they gave an application weeks ago. This is classic bureaucratic slowness costing public safety.
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