Shimla, Aug. 2 -- Heavy rainfall disrupted normal life in Shimla on Saturday as uprooted trees blocked a road near the chief minister's official residence in Shimla city, prompting concerns over the threat posed by hazardous trees during the ongoing monsoon season. Speaking to the media, Shimla mayor Surinder Chauhan said the trees fell down suddenly despite appearing healthy from the outside and called for emergency powers to allow local authorities to remove dangerous trees before they cause accidents. "Today we witnessed two trees falling suddenly. It was shocking because they appeared healthy, but such incidents highlight the need to identify and remove hazardous trees before they collapse," Chauhan said. The mayor said there had been no loss of life or property in the incidents and that civic authorities had cleared the fallen trees and restored the affected roads. He, however, said the existing approval process for felling dangerous trees was too time-consuming, delaying preventive action. "The present procedure is lengthy. Permissions have to pass through multiple departments and committees. During the monsoon, such delays can prove dangerous. The government should empower local authorities to remove hazardous trees in emergency situations," Chauhan said. He urged the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and the forest department to act proactively by identifying and removing dry and vulnerable trees, particularly during the rainy season. "We request the government to grant emergency powers so that dangerous trees can be removed immediately instead of waiting for lengthy approvals. This will help prevent accidents and provide timely relief to the public," he added. htc...