Heavy snowfall cripples Manali; tourists trek 20 kms without food, water amid traffic jam | See visuals

Manali weather update: Heavy snowfall over the past 48 hours in Himachal hill station of Manali has disrupted daily life in the region and stranded tourists amid freezing temperatures, according to multiple reports.

Tourists stranded due to a 7-8 km long traffic jam on the national highway were forced to trek 10-20 km for shelter without food, water and other facilities, ANI reported on 25 January.

The report added that continuous snowfall has led to accumulation of close to 1-2 feet of snow, and dangerous black icing on roads, completely halting traffic movement on key stretches of the national highway.

Continuous snow accumulation of nearly one to two feet, along with dangerous black icing on roads, has completely halted traffic movement on key highway stretches. Around 7 to 8 kilometres of the national highway near Manali remains blocked, forcing many tourists to abandon their vehicles and walk long distances through deep snow.

Several visitors attempting to reach Manali were forced to trek 10-20 kilometres while carrying luggage, making the journey extremely exhausting, especially for children and elderly passengers. Meanwhile, tourists trying to leave the hill station are also stuck due to massive traffic jams between Manali and Patli-Khol.

Several vehicles were stranded for 24 hours, with passengers spending the night inside their cars amid harsh weather conditions and a lack of basic facilities.

Bunty, a taxi driver from Chandigarh, said, "I have come here with a traveller. We have been experiencing heavy snowfall for the last 24 hours. The passengers in my vehicle are inside, helpless, without food or drinkable water, as there is nothing here. We have been stuck in this traffic jam since yesterday, and the administration has not sent any JCB or other assistance. The administration should have cleared the roads when it started falling snow."

Another tourist, Harpal Singh from Gujarat, shared his ordeal, saying, "I came here yesterday with the family, and we spent our night amid a traffic jam in this car. There is no food or public toilet facilities nearby, and we have moved just 200 meters since yesterday. The administration should do something."

Locals have also expressed concern over the situation. Shivbiyas, a resident of the area, said, "The tourists are feeling adverse conditions due to heavy rainfall since last night. They spent the night in their vehicles. Many vehicles are stuck, and people are crying here. The weather department has also given an alert, but the tourists still came. The traffic has been jammed for more than 24 hours now. Many people are experiencing uneasiness due to the temperature."

Authorities are yet to fully restore traffic movement as snowfall continues in the region. Rescue and road-clearing operations are expected to intensify once weather conditions improve.

“After a very long dry spell, this snowfall has occurred in our state, which has brought happiness among farmers and orchardists. However, snowfall also leads to road blockages. I am in constant touch with departmental officials. JCBs and Poclain machines are continuously engaged in clearing roads in hilly areas. As per the latest information, around 600 small and big roads have been affected, including link roads and major district roads. We are making all efforts to open them at the earliest,” Himachal Pradesh PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh told the agency.

Appealing to tourists, Vikramaditya Singh urged patience and cooperation. "I request all tourists visiting Himachal Pradesh to maintain the beauty of the state and not panic if there are temporary difficulties. The administration, police, PWD, and all concerned departments are working round the clock to ensure people reach safe places," he said.

He further informed that snow-clearing machines have been deployed extensively, including within Shimla Municipal Corporation areas, and that 350 to 400 machines have been kept on standby across divisions.

"Snow blowers have also been deployed. There may be some inconvenience, but road clearance after snowfall takes time. I request everyone to maintain patience," he added.

(With inputs from ANI)