Decades of administrative apathy, policy contradictions and sustained neglect scripted a tragic tale at Haripurdhar, where 14 persons were killed and 68 others were injured in a private bus accident on Major District Road (MDR)-03 in Sirmaur district.

The accident has once again brought the dangerously dilapidated condition of the Solan-Sanaura-Meenus road under sharp public scrutiny, with locals and daily commuters asserting that the tragedy was waiting to happen, as repeated accidents on this stretch over the years have been caused not merely by driver error, but by an outdated, unsafe and long-neglected road.

Much of this road passes through the home turf of Pradesh Congress Committee president Vinay Kumar, a three-time congress MLA from Renukaji, a constituency earlier represented for six terms by his father, late Dr Prem Singh.

Constructed between 1958 and 1962, the nearly 115-km-long stretch from Sanaura to Meenus road remains largely unchanged even as 2026 begins, a gap of nearly 64 years without any major structural upgradation.

The road is the only lifeline for over two lakh rural and tribal residents of the Trans-Giri region, connecting Shillai, Ronhat, Haripurdhar, Sangrah, Nohradhar, Rajgarh and adjoining areas of Shimla district including Kupvi and Uttarakhand’s Jaunsar Bawar with Shimla, Solan and Chandigarh.

Standing near the accident site, daily commuters pointed towards narrow curves, broken edges and the absence of safety barriers. “Accidents keep happening here because the road is too narrow and broken.

Two vehicles cannot cross safely at many points. One small mistake and the vehicle slips into the gorge,” said Ramesh Chauhan, a resident of Nohradhar who travels this route weekly for work.

Another commuter, Sunita Devi from Sangrah, said winter conditions make the situation worse. “During frost, the road becomes like glass.

There are no crash barriers, no warning signs. We travel with fear every day, but we have no other option,” she said.

Ironically, the importance of this road was officially recognised in 2016, when the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways declared the Sanaura-Meenus stretch a national highway.

In 2018, a private agency was hired to conduct a preliminary alignment survey and funds were sought from MoRTH for preparation of a Detailed Project Report.

According to the local residents despite this, the state government, in the same year as the national highway declaration, downgraded the road from State Highway to a Major District Road, a move that locals say stalled all hopes of widening and safety upgrades.

“When the Centre declared it a National Highway, we thought things would improve. Instead, the road was downgraded and forgotten,” said Rahul, a local bus operator.

The road width remains just 4 to 5 metres at most stretches, even though the Public Works Department acquired land for a 22-metre width and paid compensation to landowners in the 1970s and 1980s. Accident-prone black spots still lack crash barriers and parapets.

Small roadside temples built at regular stretches in memory of accident victims line the route, serving as silent reminders of repeated tragedies. “These temples are not for devotion, they are warnings,” said Bheem Singh Thakur a shopkeeper near Haripurdhar.

Well known social worker of Nohradhar, Lala Tulsi Ram Chauhan and Pradeep Singta, president of Hatte Vikas Manch, said repeated representations were made to the Centre, the state government and PWD officials demanding urgent improvement of the road.

“This accident should be the last warning. People deserve safe roads, not condolences,” they said.

For daily commuters, the demand is simple and urgent: if justice is to mean anything for the victims, the government must answer one hard question: who will be held responsible for turning a lifeline into a graveyard?

Highlighting the success of the Mukhya Mantri Carp Matsya Palan Yojana, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday said the state’s total fish production has surged from 17,000 metric tonnes in 2022-23 to a projected 19,000 metric tonnes in the current fiscal.

“For decades, Himachal Pradesh has been known as the ‘fruit bowl’ of the country, but as of today, it is charting a new course toward becoming a hub of blue prosperity,” the chief minister said in a statement.

“When our government took over three years before, we realised that our rural youth were looking for more than just traditional employment, they were seeking dignity, innovation and ‘self-reliance’ within their own villages.”

This inspired an overhaul of the fisheries sector, moving away from stagnant policies toward a more dynamic, incentive-based model, he noted.

“By launching the MMCMPY (Mukhya Mantri Carp Matsya Palan Yojana) in the 2024-25, the state government didn’t just introduce a scheme, but took measures to transform the rural economy.”

“The results of this systemic change are already visible in the numbers. More importantly, the growth in state reservoirs like Gobind Sagar, Pong Dam, and Kol Dam is proof that modern management and community involvement are working together to provide employment opportunities to the people near their villages,” Sukhu said.

The scheme is currently being implemented in eight districts of the state, namely Bilaspur, Mandi, Una, Hamirpur, Kangra, Sirmaur and Chamba, covering a wide geographical area and ensuring balanced regional development in the fisheries sector, he added.

The chief minister further said the state government was establishing state-of-the-art Brood Banks. With an investment of Rs. 10 crore, a Carp Brood Bank is being set up in Nalagarh and a Trout Brood Bank in Patlikuhal.

“These facilities will ensure that our farmers have access to high-quality seeds, ending the old era of dependence on external sources and ensuring the sustainability of our aquaculture practices,” he added.

“Through MMCMPY, we are not just breeding fish, but breeding hope, self-employment and a resilient future for over 20,000 families. This is the essence of Vyavastha Parivartan, changing the system to change lives.”

At least 15 families were forced to evacuate a building in the Chalaunti area of Shimla on Friday night after visible cracks developed on it due to blasting done for the construction of a tunnel on the Kaithlighat-Dhalli four-lane road.

Cracks also developed on the road and a retaining wall and as a result, traffic coming from the Sanjauli-Dhalli bypass was halted. The construction of the four-lane road near the site was also halted.

As per the locals, the cracks grew more visible on Friday night after which 15 families, including the building owners as well as tenants, started evacuating it.

As a precautionary measure, people staying at a hotel as well as in an adjoining building were also evacuated.

Upon receiving information, district administration officials reached the spot and took stock of the situation. Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, Anupam Kashyap assured the affected families that the district administration would ensure all possible assistance to them.

The evacuation continued on Saturday as well as the families shifted their belongings from the building. Locals said that the families were forced to spend night on the road.

Outraged local residents blamed the incident on the negligence of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials and the district administration and demanded compensation for their losses.

They also urged the administration that the construction of the four-lane road be halted immediately.

Pooja Sharma, daughter-in-law of the building owner, said that cracks started to appear in the building over a month and they informed the NHAI officials about it but no action was taken.

“Blasting for the construction of a tunnel is going on for over a month and we used to feel tremors. When cracks became more visible around three to four days ago, we gave an application to NHAI officials and the district administration that visited the building and gave us assurance,” she added.

Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh also visited the building and took stock of the situation. He said that the state government had made all arrangements of food and shelter for the affected families. He added that the affected families should be provided fair compensation.

The Deputy Commissioner yesterday constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the SDM, Shimla (Rural), to assess the damage caused to buildings due to the construction of the four-lane road. The committee had been directed to submit a report on its findings within a week.

Kashyap said that the compensation to the affected families would be provided on the basis of this report. Besides, a team of geologists was also conducting a study of the site to assess the damage caused to the buildings. The team had also been directed to submit its report within a week.

A local youth, Rikshit Chauhan, is among the three Indian nationals detained by the United States after the oil tanker Marinera was seized by the US Coast Guard in the North Atlantic on Wednesday.

The tanker, which was earlier named Bella 1, was operating under the Russian flag and had been chartered by a private trader. It was reportedly carrying crude oil linked to Venezuela and was en route to Russia when it was intercepted.

At the time of the seizure, the vessel had a total of 28 crew members on board, including three Indians, 20 Ukrainians, six Georgians and two Russians. All crew members are currently under detention by the US authorities, pending further legal and diplomatic procedures.
A team from The Tribune this afternoon visited Rikshit’s family which resides in Ward 7 on the outskirts of Palampur under the Palampur Municipal Corporation. The family is anxious and distressed over the sudden loss of contact with their son.

Ranjit Singh, father of Rikshit, said that they had last spoken to their son five days ago over the phone. “We have not received any information from any official source.

Neither the Indian Government nor the Russian authorities have contacted us so far,” he said with tears in his eyes. “Our entire family is extremely worried about his safety and well-being.”

He added that Rikshit had joined Merchant Navy in August last year, marking his first assignment at sea. The family had been proud of his new career, but now fears and uncertainty have overshadowed their hopes.

Family members further stated that a representative of the Merchant Navy Officers Association of India had reached out to them and informed that the Russian Government was closely monitoring the situation.

Russia has reportedly urged the United States to ensure humane and dignified treatment of all 28 crew members and has demanded that their rights and interests be strictly respected. Moscow has also called for no hindrance to the prompt repatriation of the crew to their respective home countries.

In the meantime, local MLA Ashish Butail contacted the family and assured them of all possible assistance.

He has requested the Chief Secretary, Sanjay Gupta, to take up the matter urgently with the Ministry of External Affairs so that diplomatic efforts can be intensified for the early release and safe return of the local youth.

The incident has triggered concern not only among the families of the detained crew but also within diplomatic circles, as it involves international maritime law, sanctions, and the rights of civilian seafarers. Families of the crew members are now anxiously awaiting official communication and a humanitarian resolution to the situation.

Thirteen poor families, most of them belonging to the Scheduled Castes and residing in the Bhaniad ward of Bhali gram panchayat in the Jawali Assembly constituency, have been running from pillar to post seeking compensation for extensive damage caused to their houses due to alleged unscientific, reckless and vertical hill cutting at around 90-degree angle a few metres from their residential areas during the construction of the Pathankot-Mandi highway four-lane project.

These families have been protesting against vertical hill cutting just 2 metres to 5 metres from their houses by a road construction company engaged by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) but their concerns have been ignored.

Now, their structures have been declared unsafe, forcing them to live under the constant threat of house collapse.

The issue of the constant threat of landslides following vertical hill cutting looming large on the houses of these hapless families was highlighted in The Tribune on July 13 last year.

Kangra MP Rajiv Bhardwaj, along with the Project Director of the NHAI, Palampur, had visited the affected village. A joint inspection team led by the SDM, Jawali, and comprising Public Works Department (PWD) and NHAI officials had inspected the inhabited area and took stock of the houses that had developed cracks in walls and roofs.

The victims were assured of compensation after the PWD assessed the estimated losses.

After the joint inspection, at the behest of the SDM, the PWD assessed the estimated cost of the houses of 13 families at over Rs 1.25 crore and submitted a detailed report to the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, and the Project Director, NHAI, Palampur, on July 15 last year for the disbursement of compensation to the affected families.

The SDM, who is also the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) designated by the NHAI, in his report on estimated loss had clearly mentioned that 13 houses faced danger and a mishap could happen at any time (a copy of the report is with The Tribune).

A visit to Bhaniad village, where hills have been cut for the four-lane highway, reveals that three houses have been fully damaged and their owners are living in rented rooms while the remaining 10 families are still residing in unsafe dilapidated houses under the constant threat of a tragedy.

Affected persons Aman, Harbans, Surinder, Mahinder, Khushi Ram, Charan, Rakesh, Krishan, Dev Raj, Raj Kumar, Prem Dass and Dalbeer Mohammad have submitted a signed memorandum to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday and demanded a high-level probe into the faulty hill cutting in their village that had rendered them homeless after massive cracks appeared in their houses.

They expressed anguish over the inhuman and insensitive approach of the NHAI and the road construction company that had jeopardised their lives with 90-degree hill cutting near their residential areas.

The victims also sought the immediate disbursal of the assessed compensation – the affected families were assured of relief disbursal within a fortnight but they got nothing even after six months.

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) yesterday staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office against the United States over its alleged military action and bombing in Venezuela.

The demonstrators demanded the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

The protestors also called for the withdrawal of US forces from Venezuela, an immediate halt to all unauthorised American military actions and the restoration of the country’s political and economic independence.

They urged the Central government to adopt a principled stand against what they described as imperialist aggression, openly oppose US attacks on Venezuela and uphold the principles of sovereignty, peaceful coexistence, and non-alignment in international affairs.

Addressing the gathering, Vijender Mehra, state president of CITU, claimed that more than 150 US aircraft attacked Caracas on January 3, targeting military bases, airbases, radar stations, ports and Miranda Airport.

“The aim of these attacks is to seize Venezuela’s strategic resources, particularly oil and gas, and to forcibly undermine its political independence. The arrest of President Maduro and his wife is condemnable,” he said.

Mehra highlighted that Venezuela holds the world’s largest oil reserve of around 303 billion barrels, along with vast mineral resources including aluminium, gold, iron, steel and copper, which he said the US seeks to control.

He added that former US President Donald Trump had imposed economic sanctions, excessive tariffs and fomented conflicts to ensure economically weaker nations remain dependent on America.

“This action exposes the US’ war-mongering and coercive imperialist approach, posing a serious threat to international peace and stability,” Mehra said. He noted that countries, including China, Russia, Brazil, North Korea, Chile, Iran and Cuba had condemned the attacks on Venezuela.

Criticising the Centre, he said, “The US at times imposes economic sanctions on India, levies excessive tariffs, or threatens penalties, yet the Modi-led government has never openly opposed such actions.

Occupation of Venezuela by the US will also adversely impact India as oil and other goods imported from Venezuela will become more expensive, leading to higher inflation.”

A total of 37 memoranda of commitment (MoCs) were signed, involving the proposed investments of approximately Rs 10,000 crore across priority sectors, during a high- level Investor Meet in Shimla today.

A key highlight of HIM MSME FEST-2026, the the meet was chaired by Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and it witnessed participation from leading CEOs and investors from across the country.

These commitments are expected to significantly enhance industrial output, attract capital inflows, generate employment opportunities and promote balanced regional development within the state.

In his address, the Chief Minister assured the investors of full policy, administrative, and institutional support from the state government. He emphasised that Himachal was committed to providing a transparent, investor-friendly and stable policy environment.

The CM also held constructive discussions with CEOs and investors, exchanging views on investment opportunities, facilitation mechanisms and long-term industrial growth in the state.

He assured the entrepreneurs that uninterrupted 24-hour power supply will be ensured for industries in the state and electricity will be provided at the lowest rates while urging the industrialists to sign the implementation agreements soon.

Industry Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan assured that the Department of Industries would work with full dedication to translate the Chief Minister’s vision into tangible outcomes through robust policy execution, investor facilitation and continuous monitoring of committed projects.

As per the spokesperson of the Industries Department, key sectors covered under the MoCs include food processing, pharmaceuticals, defence manufacturing, green mobility, solar energy and other renewable energy segments.

These sectors have been identified for their strong growth potential, high value addition, export orientation and contribution to sustainable and green industrialisation.

Additional Chief Secretary (Industries) RD Nazeem reiterated the government’s commitment to single-window facilitation, time-bound approvals and effective project implementation to ensure timely operationalisation of investment commitments.

The investors were briefed on industrial infrastructure, land availability, incentive frameworks and MSME-friendly policies of the state. Detailed deliberations were held on institutional support and convergence with Centre’s initiatives.

According to the spokesperson, the proposed investments are expected to accelerate industrial diversification, integrate local MSMEs with national and global value chains, and generate large-scale direct and indirect employment.

Other big announcements

A new industrial policy to be introduced soon
A world-class city named Him Chandigarh will be developed near Chandigarh
The problems of entrepreneurs related to Section 118 will be resolved
To encourage hospitality sector, permission will be granted for the opening of number of five-star hotels
The state govt will promote the textile industry

In the pre-dawn skies of September 4, 1965, as the war with Pakistan intensified, a young fighter pilot from the hills of Kangra registered his name in the Indian aviation history.

Flying a nimble Folland Gnat, Flight Lieutenant Virendra “Pat” Singh Pathania engaged a formation of Pakistani F-86 Sabre jets — the aircraft famed for their speed and firepower. Minutes later, one of the Sabre jets fell onto the ground.

It was the first confirmed air combat kill of the Indian Air Force (IAF), a defining moment that should have made Pathania a household name. Instead, his legacy slowly faded from public memory.

That morning above Pathankot, however, his brilliance was unparalleled. As the Sabre jets swerved, dived and climbed, Pathania held his nerve.

His manoeuvres were crisp and instinctive. In a dramatic dogfight, he outpaced the enemy, slipped behind one of the jets and fired with deadly precision. The Sabre plunged earthward, marking India’s arrival in the modern aerial warfare.

The victory proved far more than a single kill. It lifted morale and helped the IAF assert air superiority during the 1965 war with Pakistan, demonstrating that Indian pilots could match the best in the region through skills and courage.

For this act of exceptional gallantry, Flight Lieutenant Pathania was awarded the Vir Chakra, one of India’s highest wartime honours. Today, as his story resurfaces, he is remembered not only as a fighter pilot but also as a pioneer whose legacy continues to inspire generations of aviators.

From Nurpur’s royal lineage to the skies

Virendra Singh was born into the royal Pathania family of Nurpur on November 6, 1937, and inherited a legacy of warriors. Yet, unlike his forebears, his ambitions lay not on land but in the skies.

Known affectionately as “Bhoti” among friends, his childhood was shaped by disruption. Partition forced him to leave Burnhall School in Srinagar and continue his education in Rey village and later in Dharamsala.

Watching aircraft thunder over the Kangra valley, the young Pathania found his calling. His choosing the Air Force over the family’s traditional Army lineage was seen as an act of defiance. Even after clearing the Joint Services Wing examination (now the NDA), he was urged to reconsider. He did not.

Commissioned into the IAF in 1956, Pathania served with Squadron No. 23 and 18, flying Vampire jets before transitioning to the Hawker Hunter.

Postings in Poona, Kalaikunda and Bagdogra sharpened his combat skills. In 1963, he was selected for the elite Pilot Attack Instructor Course, the IAF’s equivalent of a Top Gun programme. Graduating among the finest dogfighters in the country, Pathania returned to Squadron No. 23 unaware that the history awaited him.

When Pakistan’s Sabre jet fell on that September morning in 1965, Pathania not only defended Indian airspace but also etched Nurpur’s name into the annals of military aviation.

Life beyond the cockpit

After the war, Pathania returned to civilian life with quiet dignity. In December 1965, he married Asha from the royal family of Keonthal (Junga). Their eldest son, Trigun Vir, is associated with Eagle Riders (India) while their second son, Karan Vir, chose agriculture over aviation.

Their daughter Preeti has pursued her own professional ventures. The family today divides its time between Patiala and their ancestral home in Rey, preserving the cultural and historical legacy of the Nurpur royal family.

Overlooked for decades, Flight Lieutenant Virendra “Pat” Singh Pathania exemplifies how the greatest heroes often remain unsung, despite their extraordinary contributions.

Police investigations into the January 1 blast that created a crater behind the Nalagarh police station have intensified, with teams scrutinising hotel records from the past few days to identify suspects who may have stayed in the area prior to the incident.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the surrounding locality is also being examined to determine whether any unidentified individuals were seen near the site a day or two before the blast.

The Nalagarh police are coordinating closely with their Punjab counterparts as part of a wider effort to crack the case. Meanwhile, the report of forensic science experts is awaited to ascertain the exact material used in the explosion.

In view of the seriousness of the incident, provisions of the Explosive Substances Act have been invoked and added to the FIR, which was initially registered on January 1 under sections relating to mischief and negligent acts endangering human life or personal safety.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also launched a parallel probe into the mysterious blast from its own perspective. Although certain terror outfits have claimed that an improvised explosive device (IED) was used, these assertions are yet to be officially verified by the investigating agencies.

The political temperature rose as the BJP lashed out at the Congress-led state government, alleging a deterioration in law and order in the sensitive, border-adjacent industrial belt.

Former BJP minister Dr Rajiv Saizal questioned the posting of a Deputy Superintendent of Police at Nalagarh who, he claimed, was serving on a two-year extension after superannuation in January 2025. He said the situation had created a sense of insecurity among residents and investors alike.

The BJP warned of a statewide agitation if transparency is not ensured in administrative appointments.

The Education Department has suspended Ashok Kumar, Assistant Professor (Geography) at Dharamsala Government Degree College, after he was named in an FIR related to the death of a student of the college.

The suspension was ordered by Rakesh Kanwar, Secretary (Education), pending the outcome of a departmental inquiry.

During the suspension period, Ashok Kumar’s headquarters will be the Directorate of Higher Education at the state capital and he has been directed not to leave the headquarters without prior permission of the Secretary (Education).

The action follows allegations levelled by the victim’s father, Vikram Kumar, who named the teacher in the FIR lodged at Dharamsala.

The suspension order notes that, as per media reports, the prima facie involvement of Ashok Kumar cannot be ruled out, warranting disciplinary proceedings to ascertain the facts.

The victim’s father has alleged that his daughter was subjected to ragging, obscene gestures, verbal abuse and intimidation, which caused severe psychological distress. A video clip of the student narrating her ordeal from her hospital bed later went viral on social media.

She passed away on December 26 while undergoing treatment at DMC, Ludhiana. The suspension has been ordered under sub-rule (1) of Rule 10 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965.

A declaration has been made under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) of 2018 against Mandeep Rana and his mother Ashoni Kanwar, they said.

The two are the promoters of a Solan-based Manav Bharti University, along with the main promoter and Kanwar’s husband, Raj Kumar Rana.

Both of the accused declared as FEO are presently based in Australia, as per the ED.

The ED registered a case against the promoters in 2020 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
It, in a statement issued in 2024, had alleged that Raj Kumar Rana and his associates “obtained” proceeds of crime worth Rs 387 crore through the sale of “fake” degrees.

A chargesheet was filed by the ED in December 2022 against Raj Kumar Rana and 15 others. Subsequently, the special PMLA court in Shimla took cognisance in January 2023 and issued summons to Ashoni Kanwar and Mandeep Rana.

The two “did not comply” with the court’s order, and the court then issued open-ended non-bailable warrants against them in November 2023.

The agency, on the strength of the FEO declaration, will now move to confiscate the assets of the two.

The FEOA is aimed at bringing to justice those people who have left India to evade the clutches of law after committing fraud with a benchmark value of at least Rs 100 crore.

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya and UK-based arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari have been declared FEO in the past.

With the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh witnessing light snow on Wednesday, the state received the first snow of the season, ending the prolonged dry spell in the state at several places.

Light snow was witnessed in Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur and Kullu districts, bringing cheer to locals as well as tourists.

As per the State’s Meteorological Department, snow and rain are likely to continue across the state till January 2 after which the state will experience dry weather conditions till January 4.

While the weather will continue to remain dry in plains, low and mid hills of the state, the higher reaches will again witness snow along with rain on January 5 and 6.

Meanwhile, very light precipitation at isolated places was observed over the high hills of the state during the past 24 hours.

Minimum temperatures in most of the places in the state were 2°C to 5°C above normal and were in the range of minus 3°C to 11°C. Similarly, maximum temperatures were also 3°C above normal and were in the range of 3°C to 19°C.

Shimla recorded 8.7°C as minimum temperature while Dharamsala recorded 6.8°C. Minimum temperature in Manali was 6.7°C, Mandi 6.2°C, Kangra 7.8°C, Solan 5.2°C, Bilaspur 6.9°C, Hamirpur 6.6°C, Kalpa 2.1°C, Sundernagar 4.8°C, Bhuntar 5.1°C, Nahan and Una 7°C each, Kufri 7.1°C, Kasauli 10.9°C, Paonta Sahib 10°C, Narkanda 5°C and Reckong Peo 4.5°C.

Solan with 19.5°C as maximum temperature was the hottest place in the state while Kukumseri village in Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest as it recorded minus 3.4°C.

The Kangra valley is experiencing an unprecedented tourist influx at the close of the year, with hotels, homestays and camping sites across Palampur, Bir Billing and Barot operating at near full capacity.

Thousands of tourists from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Jammu have poured into the region to celebrate Christmas and the New Year amid pleasant weather and scenic landscapes.

In the last two days, more than 12,000 vehicles have entered the valley, leading to heavy traffic movement on the Palampur–Baijnath–Billing and Palampur–Jogindernagar routes.

The sharp rise in vehicular inflow has resulted in frequent traffic snarls, especially near popular tourist hubs and narrow mountain roads. Parking spaces in town centres and tourist villages have become a major choking points.

The surge has proved beneficial for the local tourism industry.

Hotel owners, homestay operators and adventure tourism service providers have reported record bookings this season. Camping sites in Bir Billing and eco-tourism facilities in Barot are witnessing excellent occupancy, with many operators fully booked throughout the first week of January.

Hoteliers said bookings had crossed 95 per cent this year, a significant improvement compared to previous seasons affected by economic slowdown and erratic tourist footfall.

Tourists have been advised by the district administration and tourism stakeholders to make advance reservations and follow traffic advisories to avoid inconvenience. Visitors are also being encouraged to explore alternative destinations to reduce congestion in already crowded locations.

The Tourism Department’s strategy of promoting lesser-known rural and offbeat destinations such as Rajgundha, Bara Gram, Billing and Barot has played a key role in distributing tourist traffic more evenly across the valley.

Officials said this approach had not only eased pressure on traditional hill towns, but also generated livelihood opportunities in remote villages.

Hoteliers have urged the administration to adopt temporary traffic relaxations and better crowd management measures during peak holiday periods.

“We have requested the authorities to allow limited relaxation in vehicular movement and improve parking management during the festive season to prevent chaos,” said an hotelier in Palampur.

Welcoming the tourist boom Vinay Sharma, president, Palampur Hoteliers Association, described it as a positive sign for the region’s economy. “This is the first time in several years that most hotels are running full to capacity at the same time.

Year-end tourism is thriving. If infrastructure such as roads, parking and public transport is strengthened, the valley has immense potential to emerge as a leading tourist destination,” he said.

Local traders and service providers also reported a noticeable increase in business, with restaurants, cafés, taxi operators and souvenir shops doing brisk activities. However, residents have expressed concern over traffic congestion, noise levels and waste management, urging visitors to travel responsibly and respect local norms.

District officials said additional police and traffic personnel had been deployed at key junctions to manage congestion and ensure public safety.

The authorities have also appealed to tourists to cooperate with local administration, follow traffic rules and help maintain the ecological balance of the fragile Himalayan region.

The unprecedented tourist rush has brought cheers to the local economy, but has also underlined the urgent need for better infrastructure planning, sustainable tourism practices and coordinated management to ensure that the valley remains both welcoming and environmentally secure.