Manali, Jan 24,
After more than 24 hours of chaos triggered by heavy snowfall, authorities in Manali have begun restoring partial order through a controlled traffic movement plan, facilitating the movement of nearly 3,000 vehicles in and out of the hill town, even as access remains restricted due to hazardous road conditions.
Manali Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Raman Sharma told HimachalScape that around 1,500 vehicles stranded inside Manali and seeking to leave the town were safely evacuated, while another 1,500 vehicles attempting to reach Manali were allowed to proceed in a regulated manner.
“At present, only 4×4 vehicles are being permitted to move towards Manali from Patlikul, keeping safety as the top priority. However, vehicles that were stranded midway have also been rescued and moved to safe locations,” the SDM said.
The snowfall had brought vehicular movement to a near standstill on key routes, including roads leading towards the Atal Tunnel, which remain completely closed, while the Left Bank Road to Manali continues to remain stalled due to snow accumulation and black ice.
Earlier, thousands of tourists were trapped in long traffic queues for over 24 hours, prompting the district administration to deploy health department teams to monitor travellers stuck in sub-zero temperatures. Medical officials conducted on-the-spot health checks, particularly for children, elderly persons and those complaining of fatigue or cold-related symptoms. No serious medical emergency has been reported so far.
Social media visuals from stranded travellers showed long lines of immobilised vehicles, people stepping out to walk along snow-covered roads, and families spending hours inside cars amid freezing conditions.
Providing an update on essential services, SDM Raman said that most power lines in Manali town and surrounding areas have been restored, while water supply has also returned to normal, bringing relief to residents and stranded visitors alike.
Snow clearance teams, police personnel and emergency responders remain deployed across critical stretches to prevent fresh congestion and assist motorists.
Long weekend rush adds to crisis
A local entrepreneur from the hospitality sector said the situation was worsened by a long weekend rush, with a large number of tourists attempting to reach Manali despite weather advisories.
“Tourists are still trying to make it to Manali because of the long weekend, but many are getting stuck in massive traffic jams. Since vehicles are unable to reach the town, most tourists are now staying back in Kullu, Patlikul and nearby areas,” he said.
Authorities have once again urged tourists to avoid unnecessary travel, strictly follow official advisories, and rely only on authorised transport, particularly 4×4 vehicles, until roads are fully stabilised.
With the Meteorological Department forecasting further dips in night temperatures with another western disturbance set to hit the state from January 26th onwards. Under its influence there a high probability of snowfall in reaches, officials cautioned that road restoration may remain a challenge in the coming days too.
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