Yog Raj Sharma
Shimla, July 8
The Himachal Pradesh government has ordered a CID probe into the unusually large accumulation of timber in the Pandoh Dam, following a recent cloudburst and torrential rainfall in the region.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu took serious note of the incident and directed that the matter be investigated to determine whether illegal deforestation may have contributed to the debris flow. The dam, located in Mandi district, was reportedly overwhelmed by floating logs and branches last week after heavy rain triggered flash floods and landslides.
A government spokesperson said the CID will examine how such a significant quantity of wood ended up in the dam. “The objective is to identify the cause and hold those responsible accountable,” the spokesperson stated, adding that videos and photos of timber floating in the dam went viral online, sparking public concern.
“The priority of the state government during natural disasters is to save lives and ensure immediate relief to the affected people,” the spokesperson said. “Restoring normalcy in flood-hit regions is underway at full pace.”
Criticising the opposition BJP, the official accused the party of politicising the issue amid a humanitarian crisis. “During its tenure, the previous BJP government never conducted impartial inquiries into illegal tree felling, allowing forest mafias to flourish,” the spokesperson claimed.
The government also reiterated its commitment to establishing Himachal Pradesh as a Green Energy State by 31 March 2026, pledging that anyone obstructing this mission would face legal action.
