While people are getting to experience ‘white Christmas’ in Shimla, Manali, and other tourist hubs of Himachal Pradesh, snowfall has led to the closure of over 200 roads, a surge in hotel bookings, and four deaths due to vehicle skidding incidents.
But the tourist influx has resulted in a logistical challenge as nearly 1,000 vehicles got stuck in long traffic jams between Solang and Atal Tunnel, Rohtang. Police officials, assisted by local authorities, launched a rescue operation, evacuating around 700 stranded tourists to safe locations till Tuesday.
As the temperatures dropped below freezing point in several regions, snow covered popular tourist destinations in the hill state. The snowfall led to a closure of nearly 200 roads and four deaths due to skidding incidents.
Shimla Hotel and Tourism Stakeholders’ Association president MK Seth told media that hotel occupancy in Shimla was at more than 70 per cent. The snowfall led to a 30-percentage point increase in room bookings, he added.
While the fresh snowfall across upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh has brought cheer to the tourists, at least 223 roads, including three national highways, were closed in the state due to the same, officials said on Tuesday. About 223 roads, including the national highways between Attari and Leh, Sanj to Aut in Kullu district, and Khab Sangam in Kinnaur district and Gramphoo in Lahaul and Spiti district, were closed for traffic, PTI reported on Tuesday.