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Himalayan Trees Fall for Roads, Disaster Risk Rises
23 Jan
Summary
- Thousands died in climate disasters in 2025, impacting Himachal and Uttarakhand.
- 7,000 Devdar trees face felling for Uttarakhand's Char Dham road project.
- Project disregards critical zone warnings and unique tree ecological value.
In 2025, climate-induced disasters claimed over 4,000 lives, with Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand bearing the brunt of extreme weather events. Towns like Dharali and Uttarkashi were ravaged by cloudbursts and landslides, highlighting a new normal of environmental vulnerability.
Despite recent devastation, the Uttarakhand Forest Department approved the felling of approximately 7,000 Devdar trees for the Char Dham road-widening project. This decision, made in November 2025, diverts 43 hectares of forest land and permits 10 hectares for muck dumping, relying on a 12-meter road-width standard in a critical zone.
