Disheartened by the site of trash along the route to high altitude Gangabal lake in Ganderbal district, a British family of trekkers collected the litter setting an example of environmental consciousness for travelers.
A video uploaded by Jammu and Kashmir Mountaineering and Hiking Club (JKMHC) is being shared widely over social media, showing a female trekker collect and carry trash from the prestine forested area enroute Gangabal and Naranag lakes.
“My name is Aaley and I am from UK, it is disheartening to see so much of trash littered on the mountains and roads by people,” the woman, a part of a group of British trekkers is heard saying in the video.
Aaley mostly collected non-biodegradable trash littered along the trekking route and mournfully says the plastic litter doesn’t decompose even in a hundred years causing damage to the fragile Himalayan environment and pollute water sources in the region.
“We just tried to collect some trash and hopefully more people will follow this to save nature and environment from getting polluted,” she says in the video.
The caring act is serving as inspiration for many.
“We met the family on way to Gangbal this Sunday, they were carrying huge trash on their back collected enroute. This is an act of inspiration and appreciation and it should be a lesson for people of Kashmir and those throwing trash mostly bottles, wrappers, polythene and other harmful things on road or other places” a member of JKMHC told Greater Kashmir.
“I was someway shocked to see her (foreigner) on the way collecting litter, adding that her endeavour compelled me to follow her so I too started collecting litter but unfortunately down the track I couldn’t find a single dust bin to dump the trash in” a member of JKMHC wrote on Facebook.
Another Facebook user posted, “High standards of civic sense, great respect to her.”
The Gangabal Lake, also known as Haramukh Ganga I situated at the foothills of Haramukh Mountain in Ganderbal district of Kashmir valley. This alpine high altitude lake lies at an elevation of 3570 meters.
As the demand for adventure sports and activities is going up in Kashmir, the number of trekkers has increased in the last few years to the famous Gangbal with both locals and foreign touriststrekking there.