Snowstorm Paralyzes Himachal Pradesh: 700 Roads Closed, Tourists Stranded Overnight in Vehicles

Himachal Pradesh has been thrown into chaos after continuous snowfall over the past 48 hours crippled transport, disrupted daily life, and left hundreds of tourists stranded across the state, particularly in the popular hill resort of Manali.
The Kothi–Manali national highway has been completely blocked by thick layers of ice and snow, resulting in a 7–8 kilometre-long traffic jam. Many tourists were forced to spend the entire night inside their vehicles without access to food or drinking water. By Sunday morning, snowfall had still not eased, further complicating rescue efforts.
Several stranded travellers reportedly had to trek nearly 20 kilometres through steep, snow-covered mountain paths to reach government-run relief shelters. Local authorities said that a surge of tourists from Punjab, Haryana and Delhi—drawn by the season’s first major snowfall—has worsened the crisis.
According to the state administration, at least 685 roads across Himachal Pradesh have been closed due to heavy snowfall, cutting off several towns and tourist destinations. Alternative routes have also become impassable, making it impossible for many vehicles to reach their destinations.
Weather officials have warned that heavy snowfall and rain are likely to continue from January 26 to January 28 due to the impact of strong western disturbances, raising fears that the situation could deteriorate further. Power outages have added to the misery of both residents and visitors.
Hotels in Manali, Shimla and Kullu are already packed with tourists who arrived earlier, leaving newly arrived visitors with no accommodation options.
A stranded taxi driver, Bunty, said his passengers had been sitting inside the car for more than 24 hours without food or water. “The administration has not sent any JCB machines or rescue teams yet. Clearing snow and reopening roads is the government’s responsibility,” he said.
Authorities have urged tourists to avoid travel to high-altitude areas until weather conditions improve and road connectivity is restored.