Large-scale illegal cutting of trees in the hilly areas of Himachal has become a matter of concern, hundreds of tons of wood washed into Ravi river in Chamba has brought the forest department under question.
SNPNEWS.IN UPDATE ON 31 AUGUST: After continuous rains in Himachal and adjoining hilly and plain areas, the Ravi, Sutlej and Beas rivers and their tributaries have become a source of trouble for lakhs of people. Apart from the destruction of private and government property worth trillions of rupees in Punjab, Himachal and adjoining areas, hundreds of people are being unofficially claimed to have died. Some shocking videos have surfaced during the floods, showing large quantities of wood floating in the Ravi river in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.
According to the video and reports, thousands of tonnes of wood sleepers (logs) are seen floating in the river. The incident started on 30 August 2025 and is ongoing. This wood is being linked to the wood mafia, which is illegally cutting forests in Himachal Pradesh.
Viral videos show the river filled with wood, which shows the activity that is damaging the environment. The video has been widely shared on social media, demanding action from the Himachal government against the culprits and government officials involved.
Environmentalists and NGOs have demanded an end to illegal cutting and an investigation. He said that the Himachal Pradesh government and the Forest Department have been informed about this, but no official statement has been made yet.