Foreign Tourist Picks Up Trash at Himachal Waterfall, Sparks Civic Sense Debate
Viral video from Kangra shows foreign visitor cleaning litter as Indian tourists look on; netizens slam public apathy
A video showing a foreign tourist picking up litter at a scenic waterfall in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra has gone viral, triggering widespread debate on civic responsibility and the conduct of Indian tourists at popular destinations.
In the video, the tourist is seen collecting plastic wrappers and garbage left behind by others and disposing of them properly in a dustbin. Speaking to the person recording the video, the tourist says, “Every day, I sit up here and watch, and tell people to pick this up,” highlighting his regular effort to maintain cleanliness in the area.
The clip, shared by X (formerly Twitter) 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 video has since sparked a flurry of reactions online, with many users expressing both embarrassment and outrage. “It’s all about mindset,” wrote one user, adding that many citizens think it’s solely the government's job to maintain cleanliness. Others lamented the lack of early education in civic sense, with some recalling how children are still told to toss trash out of car windows.
“This is deeply embarrassing,” one comment read. “Our values as a society have eroded. It takes a foreigner to remind us of our responsibilities.”
While the tourist's act was widely praised, several netizens said it highlighted a deeper issue — the indifference of domestic travellers toward the environment and a general disregard for public cleanliness.
“No amount of rules or Swachh Bharat slogans will work unless people change their attitudes,” a user remarked, while another wrote, “No wonder the world sees us as uncouth, despite our lofty claims of being a Vishwaguru.” The video has reignited conversations around the importance of individual responsibility and sustainable tourism, with many calling for stricter penalties for littering and better public awareness campaigns.
