North India Flood: Supreme Court Orders States to Respond, Cites Illegal Logging Concerns

Following the devastating floods in North India, the Supreme Court has taken cognizance of the situation in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir. Chief Justice B.R. Gavai expressed concern over the heavy rainfall and resulting floods. The court has ordered the states to provide responses, indicating that illegal logging may have played a role in the severity of the disaster. Media reports and visuals of wooden logs during the floods in Himachal Pradesh have raised questions. The CJI stressed that this may not be solely a natural disaster, but possibly a crisis worsened by human activities. The court has requested a response within three weeks.