‘They are suffocating’: Why heavy rain brought down Delhi’s trees

Why the tree cover in capital is vulnerable

Trees in Delhi topple easily because a mix of ecological stress and regulatory hurdles leaves them structurally weak.

-Concretisation around trunks chokes roots and cuts off aeration

-Trenchless cabling and shallow watering damage or stunt root systems.

-Termite infestations hollow out trunks

-Irregular or delayed pruning allows canopies to grow heavy and unbalanced.

These vulnerabilities are compounded by staff shortage, fragmented responsibility across civic agencies, and the absence of an updated city‑wide tree census, NDMC’s Horticulture officials told The Indian Express.

When high‑speed winds and heavy rainfall strike, the weakened trees are unable to withstand the pressure, leading to frequent collapses.

Fallen tree near ISKCON temple, Raja Dhir Sen Marg, East of Kailash. (Express Photo)

What does the law say

As reported by The Indian Express on June 16, remedial action can be taken against dead trees and trees leaning precariously or vulnerable to falling during a storm.

On June 6, 2025, the Delhi government had issued a notification for tree removal after releasing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

There were some exemptions including a go-ahead for government and developmental agencies to fell, cut, or transplant trees for infrastructure projects without waiting for explicit prior permissions. Similarly, civic bodies and private individuals did not need permission for “general tending and light pruning” if the tree branch’s girth was less than 15.7 cm.

Among India’s megacities, the Capital has the highest overall forest cover. (Express photo)

Last month, the Delhi High Court stayed this notification, saying agencies can no longer rely on blanket exemptions to prune or cut trees during development works.

Instead, only emergency provisions of the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA), 1994, remain operative, allowing immediate removal when a tree poses grave danger to life, property or traffic, with mandatory reporting to the Tree Officer within 24 hours.

For all other cases, the law requires a formal application, inspection and written approval, a process that often stretches weeks.

What do experts say

Several experts The Indian Express spoke to pointed to a range of factors behind the damage, from unscientific pruning and concretisation of pavements to gaps in enforcement.

Naved Ahmed, a scientific team member at DU’s Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE), said, “Trees are suffocating in Delhi. The main reason is construction… and other reasons like tree ageing, fungal infections and poor species site selection.”

“I have seen pilkhan, ficus (gular) and peepal fall near New Friends Colony because of these reasons,” he added.

Dr Surya Prakash, retired zoologist at the School of Life Sciences at JNU, said, “I just returned from Delhi, having covered 100 km of roads that are waterlogged with huge potholes and RCC-stiffened pavement. Just imagine how suffocated our roadside trees are…”

He pointed to issues with tree pruning. “In the name of pruning, the ‘shoot apex’ is cut so trees expand horizontally… it can’t grow from the chopped area because the terminal tips are cut.”

“The stumps,” he explained, “already surrounded by RCC, can’t sustain that horizontal load of branches because they are weak and ultimately fall.”

Chellaiah Sellamuthu, former NDMC Director (Horticulture) earlier told The Indian Express that pruning practices are often discouraged due to strict regulations under the DPTA. “There is no distinction between forest and non-forest trees in urban areas. The DPTA needs to treat them differently and allow horticultural practices that suit city conditions.”