Home / Environment / Record Pilgrims Leave Massive Waste Trail in Haridwar
Record Pilgrims Leave Massive Waste Trail in Haridwar
12 Aug
Summary
- Over 4.8 crore pilgrims collected Ganga water, creating a record turnout.
- An estimated 8,000 metric tonnes of waste were left across Haridwar.
- Civic authorities face sanitation challenges, including piled-up garbage and waste in facilities.
Haridwar is currently facing a significant waste management crisis after hosting a record-breaking Kanwar Yatra. An estimated 4.8 crore pilgrims visited the city to collect Ganga water from Har-ki-Pauri, significantly surpassing previous years.
This unprecedented footfall has resulted in approximately 8,000 metric tonnes of waste accumulating across various sites, including ghats, mela grounds, and Kanwar routes. Officials from the Haridwar Municipal Corporation reported encountering large heaps of garbage, with some areas seeing waste piled up to waist height.
The sanitation situation has been particularly challenging, with instances of urine-filled bottles found in women's changing rooms highlighting the scale of the issue. A special cleanliness drive has been initiated and is expected to continue for another week to clear the remaining waste.
In addition to waste, the pilgrimage also had a human toll, with 12 Kanwariyas reported dead by drowning and six in road accidents. Despite these challenges, authorities noted that traffic management was smoother this year due to advance planning and the use of the new Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, which helped divert Kanwariya traffic.
While efforts are underway to clean the city and restore public spaces, a textile-waste recycling initiative is also being implemented in collaboration with NGOs to manage discarded clothing. The scale of this year's waste exceeds the 7,000 metric tonnes collected after the 2025 Yatra.
