Around 1000 vehicles were stuck and 700 tourists were stranded for hours  after heavy snowfall caused significant disruptions between Solang and Atal Tunnel, Rohtang. The situation prompted authorities to launch rescue operations and shift the stranded tourists to safe places.

Visuals showed police clearing the traffic jam, helping travelers and navigating vehicles amid snowfall. This surge of tourists in the snow-clad hills of Manali was mainly due to upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations. Many tourists, scheduled to live the city has also reportedly planned to stay back to enjoy the wintry charm of Shimla.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), severe cold wave conditions will likely prevail in some parts of Himachal Pradesh until December 26. Additionally, the state will also face dense fog conditions during late night and early morning hours in isolated pockets from Dec 24 to 27. 

Himachal Pradesh received this year’s first sheet of snow on December 8, thus reviving the spirit of local tourism industry, according to reports. Local businesses such as the tourism and hospitality sectors are hopeful to witness an extended tourist season.

Snowfall which comes once every year has incited excitement among tourists across the country. Hemant, a visitor from Rewari, Haryana described the snowfall as a beautiful sight and the weather as amazing. He told ANI, “We didn’t expect snow at all but when we woke up this morning, it was there. We initially decided to leave, but now we are planning to stay longer. This is the 1st snowfall I’ve ever seen. It is a lifetime experience for me.