17L pilgrims leave behind 2,324 tonnes of waste

AN unprecedented 17.68 lakh devotees visited the world-famous shrine of Kedarnath Dham during the recent pilgrimage season. While the spiritual turnout was historic, it has cast a harsh spotlight on the monumental waste management crisis left in its wake, with authorities collecting a staggering 2,324 tonnes of garbage.

- NARENDRA SETHI @ Dehradun

The shrine, which witnessed the closing of its portals on October 23 after a nearly six-month season, is now grappling with the consequences of this massive influx. “The volume of waste this year has significantly surpassed previous seasons,” stated a senior official from the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB). “We collected over 325 tonnes more waste this year compared to the last pilgrimage cycle.”

The sheer scale of the litter—comprising plastic bottles, discarded raincoats, and other non-biodegradable material—necessitated an intensive, ten-day postseason cleanup drive across the temple and the arduous trekking routes.