Aaqib Khan
Srinagar, Dec 24 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department on Wednesday clarified that no mass felling of trees occurred in the Drung–Dhanwas area of Tangmarg, following a viral video that had sparked concerns over large-scale forest damage.
According to a press release, field verification by a Forest Department team confirmed that only a single Fir tree was recently felled by smugglers, who converted it into planks on the spot.
The debarked logs and scattered wood chips gave the impression of extensive tree felling.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The release also stated that two nearby stumps seen in the video were decades old and unrelated to the recent incident.
The Forest Department said prompt action was taken against the smugglers, and the illicit timber was recovered. Legal proceedings against the offenders are currently underway.
The department said the clarification was issued in public interest to address the misinformation circulating on social media.(KNS).