Heavy Rain and Concretisation Blamed for Tree Collapses in Dehradun
Dehradun witnessed at least 18 trees falling across the city between Thursday evening and Friday morning, following heavy rain and strong winds. The incidents disrupted traffic and damaged public infrastructure, prompting environmental activists to point fingers at rampant concretisation around tree bases. A rain alert remains in effect until June 7.
Officials from the district disaster management office reported tree collapses in several areas, including Rajpur Road, Jakhan, Mussoorie Diversion, and Garhi Cantt. Authorities worked through Friday to clear debris and restore normal traffic flow. On Thursday, traffic on Rajpur Road was diverted towards Canal Road, and commuters faced congestion throughout much of Friday as tree removal continued.
Activists argued that concretisation — the practice of pouring cement, laying interlocking tiles, or applying tar too close to tree trunks — seals the soil, restricting water absorption and weakening root systems over time. Ira Chauhan of Citizens for Green Doon stated, "All the trees that fell were green and healthy. There is no reason why they should have fallen except for the rampant concretisation. Water cannot seep through and there is no space for the roots to breathe, which weakens the base and results in their collapse." She added, "People may blame trees, but they are not at fault. The unplanned manner in which infrastructure work is being carried out is."
However, Dehradun Divisional Forest Officer Neeraj Sharma noted that most fallen trees were Silver Oak and Paper Mulberry species, which have comparatively shallow root systems. "We have formed a team to identify at-risk trees and take precautions to prevent such incidents and the resulting traffic disruptions," he said.
Environmentalists from Dehradun had earlier approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on this issue. The tribunal directed authorities to de-concretise a one-metre area around tree bases, reiterating earlier orders. Himanshu Arora of Citizens for Green Doon said, "Despite the orders, only 150 trees have been de-concretised so far. If we do not act now, more trees may collapse, causing avoidable accidents. The NGT has already issued directions and authorities should comply."
Veteran environmentalist Vandana Shiva told TOI that trees, like any living being, require nourishment. "But when you pour concrete all around them, they cannot breathe. Strong trees are supposed to protect us from storms, not wither away in this manner," she said.
In addition to the fallen trees, a police booth at Brahmkamal Chowk collapsed, and several barricades near the Rashtrapati Udyan site were damaged. Damage was also reported at the Ekta Vihar demonstration ground. District disaster management officer Rishabh Kumar said, "Flooding was reported from some houses in the Doon Vihar area of Jakhan, but there were no major incidents."
