Kedarnath Pollution Crisis Exposed? Viral Video Shows Polybags And Debris Cascading From A Waterfall Along The Yatra Route, Internet Calls Out ‘Poor Civic Sense’

Garbage Waterfall Video Exposes Kedarnath Pollution Crisis: A video showing polybags and trash pouring down a waterfall on the Kedarnath Yatra route, now called the ‘Garbage Waterfall,’ has sparked outrage over the waste choking the fragile ecosystem. The mess is a far cry from the Kedarnath of old. The viral video collides with Anand Mahindra recently sharing an 1882 photograph of the ancient Shiva temple, sitting peacefully among snowy peaks and untouched by crowds.

Officials keep pushing their ‘Green Yatra’ campaign with plastic bans and new waste management systems, but honestly, it’s not working as well as they hoped. RTI data shows untreated waste keeps piling up—over 21 metric tonnes in 2025 alone. With more than 2 million people visiting every year, calls for stricter rules are getting louder. People are desperate to protect Kedarnath, before its natural beauty is lost forever.

How did the Internet react?

Reacting to the viral video on X, one user commented, “This is the fault of the administration as well as poor civic sense. India needs to invest in hygiene, cleanliness, environmental protection and more importantly, civic sense. A strong penalty should be done for those who do not follow.”

Another expressing frustration stated, “Things are worsed there, upar mandir parisar reels mai acha lagta hai, but reality boht kharab hai, no crowd management, trek road mostly covered with kachars shit.”

One person added, “Ban cameras and mobiles from places of worship and you will see most won’t be visiting them.” An individual echoed similar sentiments and shared, “Humans are literally destroying nature for their own benefits! Why kedarnath authority isn’t banning practics, why no waste management?”

And, one concluded, “There should be a nationwide rule on being fined 10k Rs for littering at public places and 20k at such holy places, state goverments should deploy volunteers especially for this at every 2 kms.”