Snowfall in Himachal Pradesh: 2000 tourists rescued from Atal Tunnel
The police has instructed the tourists not to go towards the high altitude areas. Snowfall has become very high in these areas, so problems may have to be faced.
SHIMLA- On Friday in Himachal Pradesh hundreds of tourist vehicles carrying over 2,000 tourists that were stranded at the Atal Tunnel following snowfall were rescued. It was a big challenge for the police to reach these vehicles safely to Manali. Lahaul, Spiti and Kullu police together launched a rescue operation and about 400 vehicles were safely brought to Manali. Most of these vehicles consisted of tourists.
The police has instructed the tourists not to go towards the high altitude areas. Snowfall has become very high in these areas, so problems may have to be faced.
There has been heavy snowfall in Himachal Pradesh for the last two days on Thursday and Friday. All the areas including Kufri of Shimla, Solanganala of Manali, Atal Tunnel, Lahaul Spiti near Rohtang have been covered with a blanket of snow.
Kullu police said that due to snowfall, the roads in front of Nehru Kund are slippery, so keeping in view the safety of tourists and their vehicles, vehicles will be allowed ahead of Wahang after 10 am on Saturday. Tourist vehicles will be allowed to go till Solanganala only.
To celebrate the New Year, tourists are flooding into Kullu and Manali, and after the snowfall, more are are arrving. According to Mukesh Thakur, head of the Manali Hoteliers’ Association, the number of vehicles on the route has caused frequent traffic jams. The occupancy of registered rooms is not in line with the volume of traffic, and it appears that many tourists are staying in unapproved premises.
Leh Manali Highway closed: Leh Manali Highway has been closed due to snowfall. Earlier, this highway was open till Darcha, but now it is completely closed.
The MeT office warned of potential moderate to intense fog at isolated pockets over plains and low hills during the morning hours and forecasted dry weather in the area through January 3. It was warned that the cold wave was likely to occur in isolated areas across low hills and plains.
