MANALI: Heavy snowfall over the past 48 hours has paralysed life in Manali, blocking national highways and leaving hundreds of tourists stranded amid freezing conditions.Nearly one to two feet of continuous snow accumulation, coupled with hazardous black ice on roads, has brought traffic to a complete halt on key highway stretches. About 7–8 kilometres of the national highway near Manali remain blocked, forcing many tourists to abandon their vehicles and trek long distances through deep snow.Several visitors attempting to reach Manali were forced to trek 10–20 kilometres with their luggage, making the journey extremely exhausting, particularly for children and elderly passengers. Meanwhile, tourists trying to leave the hill station remain stranded due to massive traffic jams along the Manali–Patli-Khol stretch.Many vehicles have been stuck for over 24 hours, forcing passengers to spend the night inside their cars amid harsh weather, freezing temperatures and a lack of basic facilities.Bunty, a taxi driver from Chandigarh, said, “I have come here with a traveller. We have been experiencing heavy snowfall for the last 24 hours. The passengers in my vehicle are inside, helpless, without food or drinkable water, as there is nothing here. We have been stuck in this traffic jam since yesterday, and the administration has not sent any JCB or other assistance. The administration should have cleared the roads when it started falling snow.“Another tourist, Harpal Singh from Gujarat, shared his ordeal, saying, “I came here yesterday with the family, and we spent our night amid a traffic jam in this car. There is no food or public toilet facilities nearby, and we have moved just 200 meters since yesterday. The administration should do something.”Locals have also expressed concern over the situation. Shivbiyas, a resident of the area, said, “The tourists are feeling adverse conditions due to heavy rainfall since last night. They spent the night in their vehicles. Many vehicles are stuck, and people are crying here. The weather department has also given an alert, but the tourists still came. The traffic has been jammed for more than 24 hours now. Many people are experiencing uneasiness due to the temperature.“Authorities are yet to fully restore traffic movement as snowfall continues in the region. Rescue and road-clearing operations are expected to be stepped up once weather conditions improve.(With agency inputs)
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