In an unprecedented move, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Sunday held a special sitting to decide the issue of granting permission to cut down ‘dangerous and precariously-hanging’ trees in Shimla town to ensure safety of life. This has been necessitated by the recent heavy rainfall in the state which has thrown life out of gear besides killing scores of people.

Even as life in Shimla town and its nine sub-divisions started limping back to normal after the havoc caused by the heavy rainfall, the death toll in the past 72 hours, mainly due to the landslides and falling of trees on the houses, has risen to 49. Seven more persons died in the last 24 hours. So far 10 deaths have been reported from Theog, eight from Chopal and six from Shimla town.

Several parts of Shimla continued to remain cut off from other parts following landslides and falling of trees. The electricity and water supply remained affected in the town and the nearby areas.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Jagdish Bhalla and Justice Deepak Gupta, despite it being a Sunday, held the hearing on the state Government’s plea to allow felling of the trees which could fall any time. There are about 250 full-grown trees in Shimla town which pose danger to human life.

“The court has asked the Government details of such trees and other evidence, which will be provided on Monday when the Bench meets again,” said Advocate General R K Bawa.

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