Haridwar, August 13, 2026: Haridwar is facing a major post-event sanitation challenge following the conclusion of the 2026 Kanwar Yatra, which drew a record around 4.8 crore pilgrims to the city.
The Haridwar Municipal Corporation has reported collecting approximately 8,000 metric tonnes of waste from the Ganga ghats and various mela sites during the pilgrimage. The waste reportedly includes discarded clothes, plastic sheets, bottles and other materials left behind along the pilgrimage routes.
The cleanup also drew attention after sanitation workers reportedly found plastic bottles containing urine in changing-room areas at Har Ki Pauri. Videos from the cleanup showed workers removing the bottles along with other discarded material.
The figures reported by different outlets vary, with some initial reports putting the amount of garbage moved to dumping grounds at at least 7,000 tonnes, while the latest municipal figure stands at around 8,000 tonnes.
The scale of the waste has renewed concerns about sanitation, waste segregation and environmental management during mass religious gatherings. Authorities are continuing cleanup operations across Haridwar’s ghats, roads, parking areas and other locations affected by the yatra.
The incident highlights the growing challenge of balancing the enormous scale of the Kanwar Yatra with the need to protect the cleanliness and environmental health of one of India’s most important pilgrimage cities.
