Major Snowstorm Triggers Large-Scale Tourist Rescue in Himachal Pradesh
A sudden and intense bout of heavy snowfall that commenced on Sunday evening and persisted through Monday left thousands of tourists stranded in the high-altitude regions of Himachal Pradesh, particularly around the iconic Atal Tunnel and the Lahaul-Spiti district. In a critical response, a joint rescue operation was swiftly launched by the Kullu police and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), successfully evacuating the trapped individuals over a two-day period.
Tourists Caught Unaware by Rapid Weather Deterioration
Many visitors had traveled from Manali to Sissu and the Atal Tunnel area over the weekend, initially to enjoy picturesque snowfall on Saturday and Sunday morning. However, they were completely caught off guard when the weather intensified dramatically, leading to treacherous, slippery road conditions that made any return journey exceedingly risky and virtually impossible.
According to official police reports, more than 1,000 vehicles were immobilized at the Atal Tunnel alone by Sunday evening. The blockage of the primary highway to Manali resulted in a massive traffic congestion, both inside the tunnel and in the surrounding areas. While hundreds managed to find shelter in Sissu, numerous others were forced to spend an uncomfortable and anxious night inside their vehicles, stuck in the extensive traffic jam. Some tourists endured being stranded inside the tunnel for nearly 20 hours, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Challenging Joint Rescue Effort Amid Continuous Snowfall
The rescue mission, initiated on Sunday evening by a coordinated team of Kullu police and BRO personnel, faced significant obstacles due to the unrelenting heavy snowfall that hampered progress throughout Monday. Manali Deputy Superintendent of Police K D Sharma, who actively participated in the operation, provided detailed insights: "We managed to safely guide around 700 of the over 1,000 stranded vehicles from Atal Tunnel to Manali Sunday night. The remaining 300 vehicles were brought back to Manali by Monday afternoon. We had a team of 40 personnel, but heavy snowfall kept hampering the operation."
Despite more than two feet of snow accumulating around the Atal Tunnel, the determined efforts of police and BRO continued unabated. Kullu Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ashwani Kumar noted that as of the latest updates, approximately 100 vehicles remained stranded in Dhundi near the tunnel, with ongoing operations to rescue them.
Widespread Weather Impact and Official Advisories
In response to the continuous snowfall, Kullu police took the precautionary measure of closing the Manali-Atal Tunnel highway at Nehru Kund near Manali on Monday. Simultaneously, Lahaul-Spiti police issued a strong advisory, urging both tourists and local residents to avoid all non-essential travel until weather conditions stabilize and return to normal.
The snowfall and rainfall have been extensive across Himachal Pradesh:
- Snowfall Locations: Higher areas of Kullu district including Solang valley, Palchan, Kothi, Marhi, Gulaba, Jalori Jot, Bijli Mahadev top, and Pangi valley; Dalhousie in Chamba; and most areas of Lahaul-Spiti district such as Sissu, Gondhla, Keylong, Udaipur, Tandi, Koksar, and Jispa. Upper reaches of Kangra district also experienced snow, with light snowfall beginning in Manali by Monday evening.
- High Mountain Passes: Key passes including Rohtang Pass, Shinku La, Baralacha La, and Kunzum Pass received over two feet of snow since Sunday.
- Rainfall in Low and Mid Hills: Moderate to heavy rainfall was recorded on Monday in districts including Kullu, Mandi, Chamba, Kangra, Una, Hamirpur, Shimla, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, Kinnaur, and Solan.
Significant Temperature Drop and Weather Forecast
The persistent snow and rain have led to a notable decline in temperatures across the state. According to data from the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh recorded an average rainfall of 11.5mm in the 24 hours preceding 8:30 AM on Monday, which represents a staggering 249% increase above the normal level of 3.3 mm.
Minimum Temperatures Recorded:
- Tabo: -2.5°C (coldest)
- Kalpa: -2.4°C
- Manali: 2.9°C
- Shimla: 4.4°C
- Palampur: 7°C
- Dharamshala: 8.7°C
- Mandi: 9.6°C
- Nahan: 10.1°C
Maximum Temperatures Recorded:
- Una: 18.6°C (highest)
- Bilaspur: 18.1°C
- Mandi: 16.1°C
- Shimla: 15.5°C
- Dharamshala: 14°C
- Bhuntar: 12.2°C
- Manali: 5.8°C
Looking ahead, the weather department has issued a yellow alert for light rain, snow, and thunderstorms in certain parts of the state on March 17 and 18. Furthermore, an orange alert has been declared for heavy rain and snow on March 19, indicating that residents and travelers should remain vigilant and prepared for continued adverse weather conditions.
