Heavy snowfall in Lahaul valley and Manali region on Friday caused a major disruption on the Manali-Leh highway, as around 1,200 vehicles, including tourist cars and buses, got stuck in Solang Nala of Kullu district.
According to local police reports, approximately over 5,000 tourists were among the stranded travellers.
The snowstorm, which began early in the morning, caused an abrupt halt to traffic movement, leaving vehicles trapped in the region’s steep and treacherous terrains.
The authorities swiftly began rescue operations, deploying teams from the Kullu Police department to help the travellers.
The rescue operation focused on ensuring the safety of the tourists and other passengers who had been stuck for several hours in the region.
Police officials confirmed that all stranded vehicles were safely evacuated, and the travellers were transported to a secure location in Manali, away from the snow-hit areas last night.
SDM Manali Raman Sharma stated that over 5,000 tourists were evacuated safely to Manali along with their vehicles. Around 1,200 vehicles were moved safely to Manali from snow-bound Solang Nala.
Today, traffic movement will be restricted toward Solang valley and Lahaul valley on Manali-Leh highway beyond Nehru Kund near in view of public safety.
The district administration has also issued warnings to tourists and locals, urging them to avoid unnecessary travel in the region due to the ongoing snowfall and hazardous road conditions.
Authorities have been working to clear the highway and restore normalcy, but they have cautioned that similar disruptions may occur if the snowfall persists.
Meanwhile, the local administration continues to monitor the situation closely and is coordinating with weather agencies to ensure prompt action in case of further weather-related disruptions.
