Shimla, Manali Turn into Winter Wonderlands; 4 Dead, Roads Blocked, Tourist Influx Rises
As visitors enjoy a ‘white Christmas’ in Shimla, Manali, and other popular destinations in Himachal, heavy snowfall has resulted in the closure of more than 200 roads.
Image Source: GNN
Shimla and Manali, along with parts of Jammu and Kashmir, have transformed into snowy wonderlands, attracting tourists eager to experience a ‘white Christmas.’ Fresh snowfall has blanketed the regions, dropping temperatures well below freezing and creating picturesque scenes that have flooded social media with stunning images. However, the snowfall has also brought challenges, including the closure of over 200 roads and skidding accidents that claimed four lives within 24 hours.
In Himachal Pradesh, popular tourist spots such as Shimla and Manali received heavy snowfall, making December 25 a highly anticipated ‘white Christmas.’ The Shimla Hotel and Tourism Stakeholders’ Association reported that hotel occupancy surged to over 70%, with snowfall boosting bookings by 30 percentage points. Despite the festive atmosphere, the snowfall disrupted transportation, closing 223 roads, including three national highways: the Attari-Leh highway, the road from Sainj to Aut in Kullu, and the Khab Sangam-Gramphoo stretch in Lahaul and Spiti. Many areas also faced power outages due to 356 malfunctioning transformers.
Tourists stranded near the Atal Tunnel in hundreds of vehicles were safely rescued by late Monday, according to Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue and Disaster) Onkar Sharma. He urged visitors to follow local advisories and avoid driving in snowy conditions. Shimla alone reported 145 road closures, with Kullu and Mandi districts facing significant disruptions as well.
The meteorological department has forecast further snow and rain at isolated locations, particularly in Shimla, from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, with the heaviest precipitation expected on Saturday. Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh assured that the department is prepared to manage the influx of tourists, deploying 268 machines, including snow blowers, to clear the roads.
Reports also highlighted that upper Shimla was disconnected from the capital due to slippery roads, allowing only 4×4 vehicles to traverse the area. While the snowfall has delighted tourists, it has also underscored the need for caution during winter travel in these regions.
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