Fragile roadside Chinars pose threat to people in Ganderbal

Raja Syed Rather

Ganderbal : Fragile Chinar trees with hollow trunks pose threat to human lives at various places in this central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

Recently, a Chinar tree fell upon a school, causing heavy damage to the building. The students and staff were lucky as the incident took place during the night.

The Chinars lying on main roads at various places across the district pose a threat to adjacent households and commuters.

One of the Chinar trees is at Qamriya Chowk in the Harran area of the town which remains busy due to commercial activities and the movement of students and employees. The tree is also fragile and can collapse anytime, with more chances during inclement weather, especially snow.

The people of many areas said they have brought the matter to the notice of the district administration and the concerned department but no heed has been paid to the issue.

“If any untoward incident occurs due to these trees, the responsibility lies on the district administration which continues to neglect our appeals to remove these dry and hollow Chinars,” a local of Harran told the news agency

Last year, a Chinar Development Officer said the department had identified many such trees which will be removed but nothing has been done so far—(KNO)