Heavy Snowfall in Himachal Pradesh Blocks Roads and Traps Tourists

Heavy snowfall sweeping Manali and the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh has brought transport and daily life to a near complete halt, leaving hundreds of tourists stranded on roads and forcing authorities to impose travel advisories over the Republic Day long weekend.

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The snow, reported as some of the season’s most severe after a prolonged dry spell, has caused massive traffic jams, blocked highways, disrupted power and water supplies, and raised urgent concerns about travel safety in the Himalayan region.

The tourist hub of Manali saw an unprecedented 8-kilometer traffic jam as vehicles became stuck on highways leading to and from the hill station.

Many visitors were forced to abandon their cars and trek 10–20 km through deep snow to reach shelter due to blocked national highways and icy conditions.

Across Himachal Pradesh, at least 685 roads, including critical link routes in Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Mandi, and Kullu  remain shut due to snow accumulation, according to officials and traffic reports.

The severe snow has also forced closure of two major national highways, NH-03 and NH-505, significantly crippling mobility in the state.

Tourists Trapped, Overnight Stays in Vehicles

Large numbers of tourists, including families and long-distance travellers, were left stranded overnight in their vehicles as the snowstorm intensified through Friday and Saturday.

With hotels in Manali reported to be fully booked, many visitors had nowhere to stay.

Some chose to walk long distances with luggage in sub-zero temperatures due to transportation standstill.

On one particularly harrowing case, an ambulance transporting a heart patient was stuck in the gridlock for nearly four hours, eventually resulting in the patient’s death due to delayed medical care, according to local rescue accounts.

Heavy snowfall also knocked out power and water supplies to large parts of the region, compounding the travel and shelter crisis.

Authorities said electrical infrastructure was under strain, with hundreds of distribution transformers affected, leaving many areas without electricity during freezing conditions.

Schools in the Banjar and Manali subdivisions have been closed as a safety precaution, while snow clearance operations are underway with heavy machinery deployed by the Public Works Department to restore road access.

Official Warnings and Travel Advisories

In response to the severe conditions, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and meteorological departments issued alerts for continuing snowfall and advised tourists and commuters to avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve.

Officials emphasised that only 4×4 vehicles should navigate snow-covered roads and that tourists should heed warnings to avoid being trapped.

The government has also urged visitors to be patient as snow clearance and rescue operations progress, pledging to focus on reopening roads and providing relief to those stranded.

The snowfall in Himachal Pradesh underscores the risks of winter travel in mountainous regions, where sudden weather changes can rapidly degrade road conditions and overwhelm transport infrastructure.

Thousands of travellers who planned the holiday weekend have been caught off-guard, highlighting the need for:

• Advance travel planning with weather updates
• Winter-specific driving equipment (e.g., snow tyres, chains)
• Emergency preparedness (food, water, blankets)
• Clear communication from authorities on road closures and hazards

RoadKing.ng reiterates that unnecessary travel during severe winter weather not only endangers drivers and passengers but also places added strain on rescue and emergency services.