GUREZ, May 2 -- Bilal Rehmani

Heaps of garbage accumulating along the banks of the Kishanganga river in Gurez have emerged as a growing environmental concern, exposing glaring gaps in the region's waste management system despite official claims of progress under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Only a stone's throw away from the fast-flowing river, mounds of unattended trash lie scattered - a stark visual contrast to the administration's narrative of improved civic infrastructure and sustainability in the border town.

Locals have expressed deep apprehension over the unchecked dumping, warning that the pristine waters of the Kishanganga - a vital ecological lifeline for the valley - are under direct threat.

"The river is not just a water bod...