Manali: The heavy rains and snowfall have strained the celebrations of tourists making it to Himachal Pradesh as the year goes by. There are more than 1,000 vehicles stranded on the road from Solang Nala to Atal Tunnel. The local authorities involved in the project include the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), and Station House Officer (SHO), who are now on-site overseeing the developments.
The wonderful tourist hub has been affected by extensive snow and rainfall, which has made traveling difficult on several routes. The snow-clad roads are like this, in particular at Shimla and Mauni, which have recorded heavy snowfall, thus bringing underground traffic on the way. Rescuers of the emergency services have successfully freed about 700 vehicles so far, while hundreds are still left behind.
To discuss the matter, the officials said that the matter has grown worse due to the increased number of tourists coming for the Christmas and New Year celebrations. A senior police officer at the place said, “We’re working round the clock to clear the roads and ensure the safety of all visitors.” The surge in tourists and the sudden rise of bad weather resulted in the creation of tough challenges for the local government.
The state capital, on the other hand, Shimla, has been metamorphosed into a winter wonderland, with the tourists and local business owners having fun, respectively. The areas of Ridge and Mall are flooded with visitors, who are having fun with the snowfall, even if there are some cold winds. The Meteorological Department has predicted little by little rain among the mid- and high-elevation areas on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Local hotelier Sushant Nag said that the snow has a positive influence on tourism: “Though the present situation is a bit discouraging, the snow is really good for the hospitality industry. We are expecting a higher degree of satisfaction as well as the arrival of tourists with a special winter show.”
The weather has also had an adverse impact on other popular destinations like Kufri, Narkanda, Kharapatthar, Churdhar, and Chansal, all of which report heavy snow. However, the same snow that fills the heart of a farmer with joy and makes the pockets of tourism stakeholders richer has proven to be a two-edged sword for the depot managing all these additional visitors.
The emergency services are still on high alert, urging the tourists to check weather updates and road conditions before travelling. The local administration is also giving the necessaries apart from emergency helplines to help those who got stranded and would inform them on government road clearance operations.
This early winter snow is set to not only disrupt the region for a short time but also revitalize its tourism that is going to peak in the season if the authorities manage the crisis effectively and if it will be possible for visitors to travel with safety.
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