Div Com orders safety audit of Chinar trees across Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 9: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg has written to all Deputy Commissioners and the Forest Department, directing a safety audit of Chinar trees across the Valley and the pruning of hollow and structurally weak branches that could pose a threat to life and property during windstorms.
The direction comes against the backdrop of recurring incidents in Kashmir in which branches of old Chinar trees have broken off during strong winds, damaging vehicles, structures and other property. The large, spreading canopies of mature Chinars can extend over roads, public spaces and residential areas, making the condition of their branches a public-safety concern, particularly during periods of unsettled weather.
Under the proposed exercise, district administrations and the Forest Department are expected to identify vulnerable trees and branches and assess the risks posed by them, especially at locations where people, vehicles and buildings may be exposed to falling limbs. Particular attention is required for branches showing signs of decay, hollowness or structural weakness.
“The exercise is intended to help authorities identify potential hazards before further windstorms cause damage. A systematic assessment would also help district administrations prioritize locations where remedial work is required, including along busy roads, near public buildings and in other areas with regular pedestrian or vehicular movement,” an official told the news agency Kashmir News Trust.
Chinar trees are among Kashmir’s most prominent natural and cultural landmarks, and their protection remains an important consideration in any intervention. The objective of a safety audit is therefore to address hazardous branches without resorting to unnecessary damage to healthy trees. Any pruning or lopping would need to be carried out by the competent authorities in accordance with the applicable permissions and procedures.
The need for such precautions has been raised previously. In April 2025, the management of Srinagar’s historic Amar Singh Club sought an urgent safety audit of Chinar trees around its premises and the adjoining Sonwar road after a large portion of a tree fell onto the club’s boundary wall, damaging a substantial section of the wall and its gates. No casualties were reported in that incident.
The condition of Chinars has also featured in broader conservation concerns. A recent report citing departmental information said around 30,000 Chinar trees had been surveyed in Kashmir, with concerns recorded about disease and damage among some of the trees examined. [KNT]