Manali, 24 December 2024: A fresh wave of heavy snowfall in Himachal Pradesh’s Manali area trapped numerous vehicles, leaving tourists stranded for hours along the Manali-Leh highway. Traffic was snarled between Solang Nallah and Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, with over 1,000 vehicles stuck in a massive jam.
Emergency rescue efforts were quickly launched, with authorities relocating approximately 700 tourists to safer locations.
Most of the vehicles caught in the snowstorm were tourist cars, many of which lacked the necessary equipment for traveling in such extreme conditions. The long traffic jam, stretching from Solang Nallah to Atal Tunnel, caused major disruptions to the region’s transportation system.
“Police and district authorities coordinated the efforts to ensure tourists were evacuated safely, and by Monday night, most of the vehicles were safely escorted back to Manali from the Lahaul side,” said one official involved in the rescue operation.
The rescue teams worked nonstop overnight, ensuring no tourists were left behind. Authorities have since advised future travelers to opt for 4×4 vehicles, ideally fitted with snow chains, to navigate the snowy roads with greater ease.
The snowfall also triggered widespread road closures in the state. A total of 177 roads, including three national highways, were shut down. Shimla, the worst-hit district, saw 89 roads closed, followed by Kinnaur with 44 and Mandi with 25.
“Key routes including NH-3, NH-305 in Kullu, and NH-505 in Lahaul and Spiti remain off-limits,” an official confirmed.
Power disruptions followed, with 683 Distribution Transformers (DTR) remaining down across the state.
The weather is expected to remain unstable, with light snow and rain predicted for isolated areas of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, and parts of Shimla, Mandi, and Kullu on Tuesday.
