SRINAGAR: The Forest Department has taken prompt cognisance of a video circulated on social media by a trekker, alleging mass felling of trees in the Drung–Danwas area.
The Department has categorically clarified that no mass felling of trees has taken place in the area. A detailed field verification conducted by the Forest Department revealed that only one Fir tree, falling in the 50–60 cm diameter class, had been illegally felled by timber smugglers.
It was found that the offenders had attempted to convert the felled tree into planks at the site. The tree had been debarked and chipped, resulting in scattered wood chips, which appears to have led to the misinterpretation and exaggeration depicted in the circulated video.
The offenders have been booked under relevant forest laws, and an FIR No. 89 of 2025 has been registered at Police Station Khag in this regard. A total of 34 cubic feet of illicit timber has been seized, and further legal proceedings are underway.
A spokesperson of the Forest Department stated the site of occurrence is located at a high altitude above 3,000 metres, which resulted in some delay in accessing the area and taking immediate cognisance of the incident due to difficult terrain and weather conditions. The incident has been misrepresented and exaggerated without due consideration of the actual facts and the challenging geographical conditions of the area.
The Forest Department has appealed to trekkers and visitors to act responsibly, verify facts before sharing content on social media, and refrain from spreading misinformation that may create unnecessary alarm.
The spokesperson further reiterated that the Forest Department remains fully committed to the protection and conservation of forest resources and continues to maintain strict vigilance against illegal activities.