Considering the alarming situation in the northern region of India, the Supreme Court of India has expressed serious concern about the flooding on Tuesday. While taking cognisance of the floods in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, the apex court observed that there is illegal felling of trees in the hills.

As reported by news agency ANI, a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran said that ‘it was a serious matter’ while referring to videos of vast numbers of timber logs washed down the hills by floodwaters in Himachal Pradesh.

The Supreme Court bench also issued notices to the Centre through the Ministries of Environment and Jal Shakti, the National Disaster Management Authority, NHAI, and the states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir in view of the flash floods that have destroyed infrastructure and have also caused loss of lives.