Viral fame at nature’s cost: Officials initiate action after outrage over ecological damage in Budgam pastures

October 9, 2025 by News Desk

A video showing social media content creators driving vehicles across lush green pastures in Budgam district has sparked widespread outrage online, with netizens calling for strict action against what they termed a “brazen act of ecological vandalism.”

The video, reportedly shot on the route from Ashtaar to Breinwar, shows a convoy of vehicles, believed to belong to a local influencer group, trampling the fragile meadows and disturbing the natural landscape.

Many social media users tagged the local administration and forest officials, questioning how such activity was permitted in an ecologically sensitive zone.

“Can someone ask @Imadclicks which trial did he follow that leads to Ashtaar from Breinwar without trampling the green meadows with their monster vehicles? Also, why did forest officials allow them to run through the green pasture?” wrote one user, echoing the anger felt across platforms.

District Magistrate Budgam, Dr. Bilal M. Bhat, confirmed that immediate legal action has been initiated against those responsible. “Action under relevant sections of the Indian Forest Act has already been initiated,” Dr. Bhat confirmed on his social media.

This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Kashmir. Earlier this year, a similar video from Pahalgam had gone viral showing bikers damaging meadows and alpine vegetation.

The vloggers involved later issued a public apology following public criticism and official intervention.

Experts warn that such reckless activities cause irreversible harm to fragile ecosystems like those in central Kashmir’s uplands. Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad, an environmental expert from Budgam said that meadows serve as natural water regulators and soil binders.

“When these pastures are compacted or damaged by vehicle movement, the soil loses its ability to absorb water,” Dr. Mushtaq explained. “That increases surface runoff and erosion, which directly contributes to flash floods and downstream sedimentation. Over time, this destruction also threatens grazing patterns, biodiversity, and the natural balance of the ecosystem.”

He added that unregulated tourism and social media stunts are rapidly turning Kashmir’s pristine meadows into wastelands. “The damage may appear local, but its effects are cumulative and widespread,” he said. “If not checked, it can alter hydrological cycles and make flood events more frequent.”

Locals have urged authorities to enforce stricter monitoring of tourist routes and social media-driven expeditions.

Environmental activists have demanded that all vehicular access to pasturelands be banned unless specifically permitted for official or emergency purposes.

“The meadows of Ashtaar and Breinwar are not adventure parks,” said a local activist from Budgam. “They are part of our ecological heritage, vital to our water systems and the livelihoods of shepherds. Turning them into content for viral videos is unacceptable. These meadows belong to Kashmir and damaging them wil damage all of Kashmir. We shall not let a few people bring floods and cause devastation for their social media content. The Government needs to ban such stupidity.”

Officials said that further investigation is underway to identify the individuals seen in the video.

The incident has reignited debate over the unchecked social media trend of adventure vlogging in Kashmir’s sensitive landscapes, which experts say must be addressed through a combination of awareness, accountability, and stronger enforcement.