Despite weather warnings predicting rain and snowfall, a massive influx of tourists has flooded the hill station of Manali in Himachal Pradesh to ring in the New Year. The meteorological centre has forecast moderate snowfall and rainfall in the high and mid hills of the state on December 31, January 1, and 2. Yet, this has seemingly acted as a magnet, drawing thousands seeking a snowy celebration.
Tourist Influx and Economic Boost
According to Kullu District Tourism Development Officer (DTDO) Rohit Sharma, the tourist numbers began swelling after December 15. Over the past week, an average of 2,100 out-of-state vehicles have been entering Manali daily, with weekends seeing an even greater rush. Sharma estimates that between 35,000 to 40,000 tourists, or possibly more, are currently in Manali.
This surge has provided a significant winter boost to the local hospitality industry. Hotel occupancy in Manali and surrounding areas, including Kasol in Parvati Valley and Tirthan Valley, is around 80%, frequently climbing higher on weekends. "The business is good this winter," Sharma confirmed, highlighting the robust seasonal economy.
Traffic Chaos and Police Deployment
The unprecedented tourist rush has led to severe traffic congestion across the region. Major snarls have been reported at the entrance to Manali town, on roads leading to Old Manali and Hadimba Temple, and in nearby villages like Vashisht, Aleo, and Naggar.
In response, Kullu Superintendent of Police Madan Lal stated that 1,000 personnel, including police and Home Guard jawans, have been deployed in Manali to manage traffic and maintain law and order for New Year's Eve. Additionally, two teams of the State Disaster Response Force have been stationed in Kullu and Manikaran as a precaution for potential rescue operations.
The traffic woes extend beyond Manali. Roads leading to the Atal Tunnel, Sissu, and Rohtang Pass are also jam-packed. The Lahaul-Spiti police reported that around 45,000 vehicles crossed the Atal Tunnel during Christmas last week. Officials anticipate this number could skyrocket to nearly 1 lakh vehicles for the New Year period, a sharp increase from 25,000 last year. Consequently, 150 police personnel have been deployed to manage traffic on key routes in Lahaul-Spiti.
Valleys Grapple with Gridlock and Government Apathy
The tourist surge has spilled over into neighbouring valleys, causing daily traffic nightmares. The situation is particularly dire on the highway from Aut to Jalori Jot, impacting travel in the Parvati and Tirthan valleys.
Guman Singh, a noted environmental activist from Banjar, criticized the administration's inaction, stating, "Tourists and locals are getting stuck in horrible traffic jams daily on this road, sometimes for more than two hours. The condition of this road is impacting tourism in this area, but the state government doesn't seem to care at all."
Meanwhile, other popular Himachal destinations like Dharamshala, Palampur, Kasauli, and Shimla also reported a substantial tourist rush on Tuesday.
Weather Update and Rohtang Pass Accessibility
As per the weather department, several districts, including Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, Kinnaur, Chamba, and Kangra, are likely to experience snowfall. On Tuesday, Kukumseri in Lahaul-Spiti was the coldest place in Himachal at -5°C, with light snowfall in parts of the district. Manali recorded a minimum temperature of 3.3°C.
In a welcome move for visitors, the Kullu administration has decided to keep the Rohtang Pass open until January 2, owing to the absence of heavy snowfall so far. Tourists will be permitted to travel up to the pass, situated at about 4,000 meters, between 10 am and noon. However, officials cautioned that the pass would be closed immediately if heavy snowfall occurs before the deadline.
