**Darjeeling: Tourist Confrontation Over Littering Sparks Online Debate**
A video from Darjeeling capturing a confrontation between a local resident and a group of tourists from Bihar over littering has been circulating widely on social media. Posted on X on October 6, the clip shows a heated exchange after the tourists discarded a child’s soiled diaper by the roadside.
The video features a narrow, litter-strewn roadside in Darjeeling, with plastic bottles and paper debris scattered along a drainage line. A blue car bearing a Bihar license plate (“BR01”) is seen parked as a local man confronts its occupants, gesturing toward the rubbish and demanding that they pick it up.
The argument grows tense, with the local resident accusing the tourists of tarnishing the town’s cleanliness, saying, “Bihar ka aadmi aisa hota hai. Bachche ka ye nappy hai, isko dustbin mein phenkna chahiye tha.” (This is how people from Bihar are. This is a child’s diaper; it should have been thrown in a dustbin.)
One of the tourists responds from inside the car, “Post kar do video,” (Post the video) before stepping out to collect the trash and place it back into the vehicle. The confrontation ends before escalating further.
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### Online Debate Over Regional Bias and Civic Responsibility
The video has sparked mixed reactions online. Many users applauded the local man for taking a stand against roadside littering, praising his efforts to protect the environment and public cleanliness.
However, others criticised his remarks as reflecting regional prejudice, highlighting concerns over stereotyping based on origin. Several comments defended the tourists for their compliance in cleaning up the litter, describing the incident as a lesson in accountability rather than a cause for shame.
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### Sustainable Tourism and Environmental Concerns
This incident underscores important discussions about sustainable tourism in Himalayan regions like Darjeeling, where unchecked waste disposal poses serious environmental threats.
For comparison, Sikkim enforces fines of Rs 5,000 for illegal dumping, a policy that has reportedly reduced pollution levels by 40% since 2019, according to state data. Such measures highlight the need for enforcing stricter rules and encouraging responsible behaviour among tourists and locals alike to preserve these ecologically sensitive areas.
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As tourism continues to grow in hill stations, fostering awareness and cooperation on civic responsibility remains essential to maintaining the natural beauty and cleanliness of these popular destinations.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/bihar-ka-aadmi-aisa-hota-hai-viral-video-shows-darjeeling-local-confronting-tourists-over-throwing-soiled-diaper-on-roadside