A video shared by an Amarnath pilgrim showing people bathing in the Lidder river in south Kashmir's Pahalgam has sparked concerns over pollution and prompted calls for authorities to take measures to protect the waterbody.

The pilgrim, who has been documenting his Amarnath Yatra on Instagram, urged the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) to intervene after filming several people bathing in the river.

In the video, he appealed to the Shrine Board to deploy personnel near the river to prevent people from polluting it.

“I have an appeal to the Shrine Board. You have deployed security personnel... please deploy one at the river as well so that people do not pollute it. People are bathing with shampoo and soap, and even washing clothes here,” he said, adding that a clean river was being contaminated.

The pilgrim also demanded that bathing in the river be prohibited.

The video has since gone viral on social media, with several users expressing concern over the environmental impact and urging authorities to act.

“God forbid, we have no hatred towards Amarnath Yatris—Kashmiris have proved this time and again through their hospitality, compassion and support. But there is something called basic civic sense. Using soap and shampoo in a pristine river can severely damage its fragile aquatic ecosystem. How can anyone treat such a beautiful river this way?” X user Tahir Peerzada wrote while reacting to the video.

Journalist Rajesh Raina described the scenes as “pathetic.” “It is heartbreaking to see some people bathing with soap and washing clothes with detergent in the beautiful Lidder River in Pahalgam. This is not tourism. This is a complete lack of civic sense,” he posted on X.

Another social media user, Iftikhar Hussain, said it was “heartbreaking to see the waters of the Lidder polluted by shampoos, toxic detergents and plastic sachets.”

“Bathing, washing clothes and littering are destroying Pahalgam's fragile ecosystem. This lifeline of Kashmir must be protected,” he said.