A fresh outbreak of sal borer insects has raised concern across the forests of Dindori district in Madhya Pradesh even as authorities continue cutting down thousands of trees damaged by last year’s infestation. More than 45,000 sal trees have already been felled out of approximately 150,000 identified as affected in 2025, while new signs of insect activity have emerged in the Karanjia and Bajag forest ranges.
Forest officials have ordered a fresh survey after large quantities of sawdust were spotted accumulating beneath sal trees, indicating renewed pest activity. The development has alarmed local communities, with some residents fearing that the outbreak could become more severe than the one witnessed in the 1990s.
Fresh Infestation Raises Alarm Despite Ongoing Tree Felling
The forest department identified around 150,000 sal trees affected by the borer infestation in 2025. Permission to fell the damaged trees was granted in September, and removal operations have continued across the affected forest areas.
According to divisional forest officer Bharti Thackeray, the felling work is expected to be completed by December, although operations in heavily affected locations could extend until January or February. A temporary timber depot has also been established at Sagartola, around 60 kilometres away, to store the felled wood.
However, fresh signs of infestation have emerged even as the removal work continues. Surendra Jatav, sub divisional officer of the Dindori forest division said he had observed considerable sal borer activity during visits to areas where trees were being felled. He has directed forest staff to assess the affected areas and submit a report before scientific institutions are informed.
Villagers Fear an Outbreak Worse Than the 1990s
Residents living near the affected forests say the infestation appears to be spreading rapidly.
Kartik Ram a 60 year old resident of Sontirath village who witnessed a major outbreak in the 1990s, believes the current situation is even more serious. He recalled large numbers of insects gathering around lights at his home between July and September.
He also expressed concern that extensive damage to sal trees could threaten forest resources, including water sources and medicinal plants.
Another resident, Budh Singh Patta of Kapoti village, said the infestation had spread across large areas of the surrounding forest. He alleged that several trees identified for removal during last year’s survey had not been felled, potentially allowing the infestation to continue.
Apart from the pest outbreak, villagers have raised concerns about the impact of large scale tree removal operations.
Hirabhai, a resident of Sontirath, said more than 5,000 trees had been cut in forest compartments 76 to 79 near the village. He claimed that between 15,000 and 20,000 trees were scheduled for removal in each compartment.
He also alleged that healthy trees were being damaged when infected trees fell against them during felling operations.
During visits to the affected areas on October 27 and 28, residents told that the infestation appeared more severe than last year’s outbreak and comparable to, or worse than the major episode around three decades ago.
The latest developments highlight the challenges of managing recurring pest outbreaks in forest ecosystems. Although officials have initiated a fresh assessment, the total number of trees affected by the renewed infestation remains unknown.
With thousands of trees already removed and new signs of insect activity emerging, the situation has raised concerns about the long term health of Dindori’s sal forests, the protection of surrounding biodiversity and the need for effective measures to contain the outbreak without causing further damage to healthy trees.