Thousands of revelers ushered in the New Year across a bustling and congested Manali on a chilly, overcast Wednesday evening, even as light to moderate snowfall in higher altitudes brought festive cheer to many visitors. While the main town remained devoid of snow, popular high-altitude areas like Rohtang Pass and sections of Lahaul-Spiti district, including Shinkula Pass, Zanskar Sumdo, and Koksar, witnessed welcome winter precipitation.
Snowfall and Safety Measures
Light snowflakes also dusted the iconic Atal Tunnel by the afternoon, much to the delight of tourists. "Though the snowfall was light, I am happy to experience the white flakes falling. I hope for more tonight and tomorrow," shared Sharad Sharma, a tourist from Noida. However, the changing weather conditions prompted the Lahaul-Spiti police to take immediate action for public safety.
Authorities prohibited travel on the Darcha-Shinkula road due to its deteriorating state, directing tourists back toward the Atal Tunnel as surfaces turned slippery and unsafe. To manage the significant influx of vehicles, police regulated heavy traffic by implementing single-lane movement at several points in Sissu and Koksar. In Manali, Kullu police deployed additional forces and a Quick Response Team (QRT) to handle the congestion on the highway leading to the tunnel, which saw frequent jams throughout the day.
New Year Celebrations and Tourism Surge
The festive spirit in Manali peaked with a live musical night on the famous Mall Road, where a sea of tourists and locals danced their way into 2025. The celebrations, which commenced at 7 pm, culminated in a joyous midnight countdown with crowds exchanging greetings. While dhabas, restaurants, and liquor vends remained operational until midnight, police maintained a vigilant watch with drunk-driving checkpoints (nakas) on the roads.
The tourism boom was evident in occupancy rates. Tourism officials reported that hotel occupancy in Manali reached 85% on New Year's Eve (Wednesday), highlighting the destination's enduring popularity for year-end celebrations.
Temperature Dip and Weather Forecast
Amid the celebrations, Himachal Pradesh shivered under cold wave conditions. Kukumseri and Tabo were the coldest recorded spots, each registering a minimum temperature of -3.4 degrees Celsius. Other locations with notably low temperatures included Kalpa (2.1°C), Seobagh (3.5°C), Reckong Peo (4.5°C), Sundernagar (4.8°C), Narkanda (5°C), Bhuntar (5.1°C), and Solan (5.2°C). Key tourist hubs recorded the following minimums:
- Manali: 6.7 degrees Celsius
- Dharamshala: 6.8 degrees Celsius
- Kufri: 7.1 degrees Celsius
- Shimla: 8.7 degrees Celsius
- Kasauli: 10.9 degrees Celsius
The Meteorological Centre in Shimla has predicted more winter weather, forecasting light to moderate snowfall in the high and mid hills of the state on January 1 and 2. Additionally, the weather department has issued a warning for dense fog in parts of the low hills, particularly in Bilaspur and Mandi districts, until January 4.
