Massive Rescue Operation in Himachal Pradesh as Snowfall Traps Tourists
In a significant relief effort, over 300 tourist vehicles that were stranded in the Lahaul Spiti district and near the Atal Tunnel due to severe snowfall have been successfully rescued and brought back to Manali. The joint operation, spearheaded by the Kullu police and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), entered its third day on Tuesday, marking a critical response to the sudden weather crisis that left thousands of tourists trapped over the weekend.
Details of the Rescue and Ongoing Challenges
According to Kullu police officials, approximately 320 vehicles were safely guided back to Manali on Tuesday. These vehicles had been stuck in key locations including Sissu, Keylong, and the Atal Tunnel area. Manali DSP KD Sharma provided a breakdown, noting that around 200 vehicles were stranded in Sissu and Keylong, with an additional 120 in the Atal Tunnel vicinity. While most of these tourist vehicles have now been cleared, about a dozen abandoned vehicles remain in the Atal Tunnel area, left by their owners during the heavy snowfall on Sunday evening, and are yet to be recovered.
The rescue operation was launched after more than 1,000 vehicles became trapped due to unexpected heavy snowfall on Sunday evening, creating a chaotic situation for tourists. By Monday evening, the majority of these vehicles had been guided back to Manali through coordinated efforts. However, the Manali-Atal Tunnel highway remains closed to visitors at Nehru Kund, as confirmed by DSP Sharma. He emphasized that the road closure will persist based on weather conditions, though local residents and emergency vehicles are permitted to pass through the checkpoint.
Snow Clearance and Weather Impact
Kullu deputy commissioner Anurag Chandra Sharma reported that snow clearance operations on the road leading to the Atal Tunnel have commenced. The BRO and district administration machinery are actively engaged in this task, but continuous snowfall has led to significant snow accumulation and icing, severely hampering traffic movement. Authorities are coordinating across departments to restore the route as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh experienced notably low temperatures on Tuesday, with most places recording below-normal readings. Kukumseri in Lahaul Spiti recorded the lowest minimum temperature at -4.6 degrees Celsius. Among popular tourist spots, Shimla saw a minimum of 6 degrees Celsius (2.5 degrees below normal), Dharamshala at 8.6 degrees (2.8 degrees below normal), Manali at 0.2 degrees (3.6 degrees below normal), and Palampur at 6 degrees Celsius (4 degrees below normal). Berthin was the warmest location with a maximum temperature of 26.9 degrees Celsius.
Other areas also reported below-normal maximum temperatures: Una at 22.4 degrees (7.4 degrees below normal), Bhuntar at 19.1 degrees (4.7 degrees below normal), Kalpa at 8.6 degrees (3.7 degrees below normal), Mandi at 24.1 degrees (4.5 degrees below normal), and Chamba at 21.2 degrees Celsius (6.7 degrees below normal).
Snowfall and Rainfall Statistics
The Meteorological Centre in Shimla provided detailed snowfall measurements as of 8:30 am on Tuesday. Gondhla recorded 23.5 cm of snowfall, Keylong 20 cm, Kukumseri 11.2 cm, Kalpa 8.8 cm, Bharmour 8 cm, Manali 5 cm, and Sangla 4.5 cm. Additionally, the state recorded an average rainfall of 13.6 mm by Tuesday morning, which is 337% higher than the normal average of 3.1 cm, highlighting the intensity of the weather event.
This rescue operation underscores the challenges posed by extreme weather in mountainous regions and the critical role of emergency services in ensuring tourist safety. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with efforts focused on clearing remaining vehicles and reopening roads as conditions improve.
