21-year-old enters polluted Manorama River as others look away

Gonda, Uttar Pradesh: The Manorama River had nearly vanished under plastic, filth, and waste. Water that once flowed through the region turned murky and invisible, reduced to a dumping ground where garbage drifted endlessly. For many residents, the river became a symbol of a problem too big to fix.

People complained and moved on while authorities took no action. Aakash Gupta, 21, decided to step into the river himself. Locals had grown used to the smell and the sight of floating debris. Gupta began clearing trash from the water alone, pulling out plastic bags, bottles, and discarded waste by hand. The Manorama, a tributary in eastern Uttar Pradesh, has suffered years of neglect and urban dumping.

Environmental groups have warned that several small rivers in the state face similar decline due to lack of maintenance and unchecked waste disposal. Gupta’s cleanup started without funding or official support. He says the work will continue until the river runs clear again.