The Supreme Court of India has raised serious alarms about natural disasters hitting the Himalayan region hard, especially after devastating landslides and heavy monsoon rains wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir. These events have led to countless deaths and massive destruction, highlighting the urgent need to tackle ecological imbalance in the Himalayas.
On Monday, a bench led by Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta made it clear that the problems aren’t just limited to Himachal Pradesh. They plan to broaden the scope of the public interest litigation (PIL) to cover the entire Himalayan range. “It isn’t going to be limited to Himachal only, but the entire Himalayan range that is facing the issue. This time it has been very, very violent,” the bench remarked, pointing to the growing threat of landslides, floods, and other disasters fueled by climate change.
The court announced it will deliver its orders on this suo motu case on September 24, following its own initiative to address the crisis. Earlier, on July 28, another bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan had warned that Himachal Pradesh could “vanish in thin air” if things don’t change fast. That bench took suo motu notice while hearing a petition against a Himachal High Court order, which had rejected a challenge to the state’s June 2025 notification labeling certain areas as “green zones” to stop unchecked construction.
The Supreme Court refused to overturn the High Court’s decision but stressed that the notification aimed to control building activities in vulnerable spots. It highlighted how the situation in Himachal has worsened due to climate change, with experts blaming factors like hydropower projects, four-lane highway expansions, deforestation, multi-storey buildings, and unplanned tourism growth for the destruction.
The court emphasized the importance of consulting geologists, environmental experts, and local communities before pushing ahead with any development projects in the Himalayas. It also called out uncontrolled tourism—a key economic driver in the region—for putting extra strain on the fragile ecosystem. The Centre, the court said, has a duty to step in and prevent further ecological damage that could trigger more natural calamities.
In response, the top court directed its registry to register a fresh PIL on the matter and asked the Himachal government to submit a detailed reply. They want to know if the state has an action plan to fix these issues and what steps it plans for the future.
These tragedies aren’t new for India’s Himalayan states. Floods, landslides, and avalanches strike frequently, made worse by climate change and human activities like deforestation and reckless construction. The area’s delicate terrain makes it especially prone to such disasters during monsoon season. Major incidents in 2025, 2023, 2021, and 2013 have claimed many lives, wrecked infrastructure, and wiped out homes and entire villages, underscoring the need for sustainable development in the Himalayas.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
