A video showing a tourist driving a Toyota Fortuner through the Jhelum River in Kashmir has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread criticism and raising concerns over public safety and environmental responsibility. The incident, shared on X, depicts the driver filming the stunt from inside the SUV while bystanders on the riverbank recorded the spectacle. Despite flowing water and an uneven riverbed, the vehicle successfully crossed the stretch.
Mindset over vehicle
The post accompanying the video read: “The real issue isn’t the vehicle, it’s the mindset. Driving a Fortuner into the Jhelum River for a few seconds of attention shows why civic sense is a bigger problem than infrastructure. We blame authorities for everything, but responsibility starts with individuals too.” The post was shared by Yash Gupta on June 22, 2026.
Netizens demand strict action
Social media users reacted strongly. One user wrote: “If exemplary punishment is meted out to such idiots, others won’t dare to follow suit. Why do the same Indians behave when overseas? The authorities there treat the culprit with an iron hand! Corrupt Indian govts. can’t do that. It is about governance: enforcement of the laws.” Another commented: “There should be no expectation of responsibility, national pride or civic sense from Indians. We need ruthless enforcement of laws. Impound the car, impose a 100k fine and jail the driver. Apply it consistently without fear or favour. People will suddenly become responsible. In reality, we are a society riddled with corruption, political patronage and apathy.”
Environmental impact highlighted
Beyond safety, many users stressed the environmental damage of driving vehicles into natural water bodies. One user remarked: “Blame it on the TVCs which flaunt the water wading capacities of these SUVs, with loud music and show the SUV driving in a water body effortlessly, people who buy, just copy the behaviour.”
