Manali: A powerful snowstorm brought life in Manali to a near standstill on Friday, as heavy snowfall crippled road connectivity and stranded hundreds of tourists for several hours across key stretches leading into the hill town.
Officials said snowfall of over two feet in some pockets turned roads into slippery sheets of ice, severely hampering vehicular movement, especially along steep and narrow sections. The Patlikul–Manali road witnessed the worst congestion, with vehicles piling up at several bottlenecks, including Rangri, Aloo Ground, the Volvo bus stand, the police station area, Tibetan School, and 17 Mile.
With traction lost on snow-covered surfaces, many vehicles skidded, triggering minor accidents and adding to the traffic chaos. Narrow road widths and a surge in tourist vehicles further complicated movement. Despite the peak winter season, hotel occupancy remained moderate at around 55 to 60 per cent, as a significant number of visitors were unable to reach Manali due to road closures.
The district administration remained on high alert, deploying emergency response teams throughout the night. Relief workers distributed food and drinking water to stranded travellers at critical locations. Manali Sub-Divisional Magistrate Raman Kumar Sharma personally monitored traffic control and rescue operations, urging tourists to remain patient and cooperate with authorities.
By Saturday morning, snow-clearing operations were ramped up across the national highway, the left-bank road and major internal routes within Manali. Officials said most town roads had been reopened and traffic was expected to stabilise as clearance work progressed.
However, the extreme conditions also led to a tragic incident. An ambulance transporting a cardiac patient from Manali to Mandi was stuck in a traffic jam near Rangri for nearly four hours. The patient, identified as Sushil Kumar from Dehan village in Una district, reportedly passed away during the delay.
The heavy snowfall also disrupted electricity and water supply in several areas. As a precaution, authorities ordered the closure of all schools in the Banjar and Manali sub-divisions on January 24.
In a separate rescue operation, 12 tourists stranded in the Raghupurgarh–Sojha belt of Banjar subdivision were safely evacuated after swift action by local residents. Six villagers braved harsh weather to reach the group and escort them to safer locations in Sojha and Jibhi, where conditions were more favourable.
Authorities have advised travellers to avoid non-essential journeys, remain updated on weather advisories, and plan movements only after official clearance of routes.
