India, June 5 -- Amid World Environment Day discussions on conservation and sustainability globally, viral videos showing littering and pollution at Himalayan pilgrimage sites have sparked criticism online. It has also renewed concerns over the environmental impact of rising spiritual tourism in India. More than 45.31 lakh devotees have registered so far for the annual Char Dham and Hemkund Sahib Yatra, according to official data. Videos shared online in recent days show heaps of garbage near destinations such as Badrinath and Yamunotri, highlighting the need for stronger waste-management measures at ecologically sensitive sites. Some viral clips allegedly show tourists throwing waste into water bodies, washing dirty clothes in sacred rivers and, in one instance, an individual was even spotted urinating at a riverbank. Several social media users have criticised the situation describing it as a disregard for both the environment and the sanctity of these religious sites. "It is sad to see people polluting our sacred water bodies," wrote one user on X. Another commented: "Imagine travelling all the way to the Himalayas only to treat the temple area and sacred waters like a trash bin. It is time authorities deployed stricter monitoring and imposed penalties on offenders."HTC...