Bad weather causes major inconvenience for tourists in Shimla and Manali

Shimla/Manali (The Uttam Hindu): Thousands of tourists faced severe inconvenience at Himachal Pradesh’s major tourist destinations Shimla and Manali due to heavy snowfall. Road connectivity was disrupted, and poor traffic management left visitors stranded for hours without proper food, warm clothing, or shelter.

Heavy snowfall leads to traffic chaos in Manali

Manali recorded nearly two feet of fresh snowfall, resulting in the National Highway remaining blocked for more than 60 hours since January 23. The situation has raised serious questions about the preparedness of the administration, the state government, and the National Highways Authority of India. Incomplete snow-clearing operations and vehicles skidding on icy roads caused a massive traffic jam stretching nearly 10 kilometers from Manali to Kothi. Several tourists abandoned their vehicles and walked to hotels, while many were forced to spend the entire night inside their cars. A similar traffic snarl was witnessed on the Left Bank Road at Gojra between Kullu and Manali, where local residents stepped in to provide food and shelter to stranded travelers.

Administration working to restore movement, more snowfall expected

SDM Raman Kumar Sharma stated that the administration is continuously working and traffic is being restored gradually. Officials from the highway authority claimed that machinery has been deployed for snow clearance. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has predicted more rain and snowfall on January 27. In view of this, the administration has advised tourists to avoid unnecessary travel and strictly follow official advisories.