Christmas tourist rush to popular destinations chokes Manali, Solang and Atal Tunnel in Himachal
Manali, Solang, and Atal Tunnel up to Sissu in Lahaul-Spiti, seeking a White Christmas after a recent snowfall in the region. The influx of vehicles created bottlenecks, particularly in popular areas like Solang, where a 4 to 5-km traffic jam ensued due to the sheer volume of visitors.
From Saturday until 10:30 am on Sunday, a staggering 12,701 vehicles passed through Atal Tunnel Rohtang.
Out of these, 6,571 entered Lahaul valley, while 6,130 exited the valley through the tunnel. The surge in tourist arrivals prompted the Winter Carnival Committee in Manali to prepare for a special Christmas celebration, featuring a mega folk dance event on Mall Road.
Before Christmas, a significant number of tourists had already descended upon Himachal Pradesh, with many converging on Manali.
Eager to witness the snow, most tourists redirected towards Sissu and Koksar in Lahaul valley. Unfortunately, the large volume of vehicles resulted in extended travel times, with tourists experiencing delays of up to three to four hours on the usually 45-minute journey from Manali to Atal Tunnel.
Police authorities, anticipating the seasonal rush, took measures to maintain order and facilitate traffic flow.
The Kullu Police reported that a considerable number of visitors from other states were arriving in Kullu-Manali to celebrate Christmas and New Year. To enforce traffic rules, police personnel were deployed at various locations, and strict actions were taken against those violating the law.
Addressing the challenges posed by traffic congestion, a senior police official mentioned penalizing vehicles with black screens on their mirrors, a violation promptly addressed through challans and screen removal.
