The hills in North India are facing a major challenge this Christmas weekend as heavy traffic and an influx of tourists have left the region struggling to cope. Popular destinations in Himachal Pradesh, such as Manali, have been overwhelmed with tens of thousands of people, leading to long queues of vehicles, traffic jams, and road congestion. Images and videos of the chaos have gone viral on social media.
According to police data, an estimated 65,000 people in over 12,000 vehicles crossed the 9.2-kilometre Atal Tunnel on Sunday. The previous day, around 5,000–6,000 vehicles entered Manali. This overcrowding during the Christmas and New Year holidays is an annual occurrence in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in areas like Manali, Kasol, and Banjar/Tirthan Valley, where tourists flock to celebrate a "White Christmas."
Adding to the challenges, heavy snowfall hit Rohtang on Saturday, causing the temperature to drop below zero. Despite the difficulties, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu welcomed the tourists and praised the efforts of the Lahaul & Spiti and Kullu police in managing the massive influx of tourists and vehicles at the Rohtang Tunnel.
To ensure the safety of the tourists, the Lahaul and Spiti police conducted drone surveillance at the ATR North portal in Sissu. The Director General of Police, Sanjay Kundu, appealed to the tourists to prioritise safe travel practices and adhere to traffic rules.
The hills in North India are facing a challenging Christmas weekend due to heavy traffic and an influx of tourists. Popular destinations like Manali have experienced long queues of vehicles, traffic jams, and road congestion.
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