SRINAGAR, Dec. 24 -- The Forest Department has taken prompt cognisance of a video circulated on social media by a trekker, alleging mass felling of trees in the Drung-Danwas area.

The Department has categorically clarified that no mass felling of trees has taken place in the area. A detailed field verification conducted by the Forest Department revealed that only one Fir tree, falling in the 50-60 cm diameter class, had been illegally felled by timber smugglers.

It was found that the offenders had attempted to convert the felled tree into planks at the site. The tree had been debarked and chipped, resulting in scattered wood chips, which appears to have led to the misinterpretation and exaggeration depicted in the circulated video.

The...