Overview

• Karan Verma captured the May encounter on Instagram, confronting a tourist over allegedly tossing a plastic bottle into Nainital Lake.
• The video has attracted more than 140,000 likes by early July, reflecting its viral spread on social media.
• Viewers have praised Verma’s stand against the litterer and criticized the surrounding bystanders for remaining silent.
• The incident has fueled calls for heightened awareness and tougher enforcement to protect fragile ecosystems at Nainital, Shimla and Manali.
• Local authorities continue to grapple with surging tourist waste amid limited infrastructure for sustainable waste management.