Foreign tourist picks up trash at Himachal waterfall, video sparks civic sense debate

India Today

24-07-2025

A foreign tourist who visited Himachal Pradesh has received a big round of applause for doing something many believe should be second nature to locals - picking up litter.In a video filmed at a scenic waterfall in Kangra, the tourist is seen collecting plastic wrappers and other garbage left behind by visitors and throwing them into a dustbin.'Every day, I sit up here and watch, and tell people to pick this up,' the tourist tells the person recording the video while speaking about his daily efforts to keep the area clean.advertisement
The short clip, shared on Twitter by user Nikhil Saini, was captioned: 'Shameful a foreign tourist is more concerned about nature's beauty while local tourists keep shamelessly littering such stunning places. No government or administration is to be blamed - it's the people who need to change if we ever want a clean country.' The now-viral video, meanwhile, has triggered diverse reactions, with angry viewers discussing the lack of civic responsibility among domestic tourists.'It's all about mindset,' a user said. 'Many people think it's the government's job to keep the place clean, but that's only partly true. Every citizen shares that responsibility.'Others wrote about how early habits shape attitudes: 'I have seen people telling their kids to throw trash out of the car. Civic sense is zero amongst us.''Our values have declined as a society and nation,' another user said, adding: 'People here really lack civic sense and concern for nature.'Although the tourist's simple act of picking up trash was praised, several others also found it deeply embarrassing that it took a foreigner to set the example.'Until people change their mindset, no amount of rules or governance can keep our country clean,' one user wrote. Another added, 'No wonder the world considers us uncouth while we falsely claim to be Vishwaguru.'In June, a video from Lapas Waterfall in Himachal's Barot Valley sparked outrage after it showed tourists openly drinking alcohol and littering at the scenic spot.- Ends