Once known as the “Pride of Himachal,” the serene village of Kasol nestled in Himachal Pradesh’s Parvati Valley is now battling an escalating environmental crisis. Famous for its breathtaking views and a favorite among international and domestic travelers, the village has made headlines for a much darker reason unchecked pollution and plastic waste.
Viral Videos Ignite Public Fury
Disturbing videos recently went viral on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), exposing large piles of plastic waste and garbage dumped recklessly in the lush forests surrounding Kasol. The visuals show plastic bottles, food wrappers, and non-biodegradable trash strewn across once-pristine hillsides.
In one emotional clip, a local man can be heard lamenting the deterioration of his hometown: “Bohot gandi smell hai. Pahle kaisa tha aur ab dekho kaisa hai.”
WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:
When you enter Himachal, you pay a green tax in the name of nature conservation — and this is what the government and administration do with those crores: openly dumping garbage in forests and near rivers. Welcome to Kasol, an international tourist hub turning into a dump! pic.twitter.com/DUoOIKthBP
— Nikhil saini (@iNikhilsaini) May 27, 2025
(“It smells terrible. Look at how it was before, and how it is now.”)
Social media exploded in response. While some users slammed the local authorities for poor waste management, others pointed fingers at irresponsible tourists for their lack of civic sense.
One netizen sarcastically wrote: “When an unstoppable force (lack of civic sense) meets an immovable object (kamchor administration), it results in a civic masterpiece.”
Another user commented: “It’s not just the administration. Tourists, too, are to blame. As a society, we’ve failed to protect what little nature we have left.”
The harshest criticism came from another comment: “It’s good to see people blaming the administration instead of the tourists. All visible litter and garbage result from a corrupt, incompetent administration run by baboons.”
Over-Tourism Meets Administrative Apathy
Environmentalists and locals have long warned about the environmental damage caused by the unchecked rise in tourism. Despite the economic gains from tourist footfall, the region’s fragile ecosystem cannot withstand the resulting pressure without proper infrastructure and enforcement of environmental norms.
Without effective waste disposal systems, civic awareness campaigns, and strong administrative action, Kasol is at risk of being buried under the weight of its own popularity.
This once-idyllic village now stands as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the consequences of taking nature for granted. As the outrage grows, so does the call for urgent action to restore and preserve Kasol’s natural charm before it’s lost forever.
