Tourists Endure Nightmarish Ordeal as Manali Remains Paralyzed by Traffic and Cold
Thousands of tourists found themselves trapped in the picturesque town of Manali for a second consecutive day on Sunday, as sub-zero temperatures and a massive traffic gridlock brought normal life to a complete standstill. The situation has created what many are describing as a logistical nightmare, with exit routes from the popular hill station becoming virtually impassable.
Traffic Jams Stretch Over 10 Kilometers in Freezing Conditions
The exit routes from Manali experienced the most severe impact, with slippery road conditions combining with an overwhelming surge of vehicles to create traffic jams stretching over 10 kilometers. These massive queues reached as far as the 15 Mile area near Patlikuhal, creating a perfect storm of transportation chaos.
The ordeal forced hundreds of unfortunate tourists to spend Saturday night shivering inside their buses, taxis, and private vehicles as traffic slowed to a crawl in freezing conditions. For many travelers, what should have been a simple 15-kilometer journey from Manali to Patlikuhal—where snow had already begun melting by Friday—turned into an exhausting marathon lasting more than 10 hours.
"It took us a staggering 12 hours just to reach Patlikuhal," recounted Kulwinder Singh, a tourist from Ferozepur, Punjab. "We spent the entire night shivering in our car. I have never experienced such a nightmarish traffic jam in my entire life."
Clear Weather Fails to Alleviate Gridlock Despite NHAI Efforts
Remarkably, the gridlock persisted despite concerted efforts by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to clear snow from the crucial Kullu-Manali highway. Although weather conditions remained clear on both Saturday and Sunday, the sheer volume of traffic combined with treacherous icy patches rendered the roads effectively impassable for most vehicles.
Growing increasingly desperate to escape the standstill, many tourists eventually abandoned their vehicles altogether and began trekking toward Patlikuhal on foot. "This is easily the worst traffic jam I've ever witnessed," said Himanshu Sharma, a tourist from Noida. "I can actually reach Patlikuhal faster on foot than by car at this point."
Police Implement Strict Controls as Incoming Traffic Adds to Chaos
While thousands remained stuck trying to leave Manali, thousands more attempted to enter the town to witness the fresh snowfall. Kullu police, however, intercepted these incoming vehicles at strategic points including Patlikuhal and Bhuntar.
"We are currently only allowing 4x4 vehicles to proceed beyond Patlikuhal," explained Manali DSP KD Sharma. "This measure prioritizes the evacuation of stranded tourists who are already trapped in the area."
Kullu SP Madan Lal described the tourist rush as completely unprecedented. He revealed that 200 police personnel have been deployed around the clock to manage the situation, but the narrow two-lane highway remains overwhelmed by the sheer volume of vehicles.
Fresh Weather Warnings Compound Existing Challenges
Adding to the already dire situation, the Meteorological Centre in Shimla has forecast a new wave of heavy rain and snow expected to begin from the night of January 26 and continue through January 28. This development threatens to further complicate evacuation efforts and road clearance operations.
Meanwhile, a severe cold wave continues to sweep across Himachal Pradesh. Tabo in Lahaul-Spiti district recorded the state's lowest temperature at -10°C on Sunday, while Manali itself dipped to -1.1°C, creating dangerously cold conditions for those stranded in vehicles without adequate heating.
The combination of extreme weather, unprecedented tourist numbers, and infrastructure limitations has created a crisis situation that authorities are struggling to manage effectively, leaving thousands of visitors facing extended periods of discomfort and uncertainty in one of India's most popular winter destinations.
