Hotels inside Manali town reported near-100% occupancy, even as many travellers remained unable to reach their bookings due to traffic jam and restrictions on vehicle entry.
BY PC Bureau
January 25, 2026 :What was meant to be a picturesque winter escape has turned into a nightmare for thousands of tourists in Manali and nearby areas of Himachal Pradesh, after the season’s first major snowfall coincided with a long holiday weekend, overwhelming the region’s fragile mountain infrastructure.
A 10-kilometre-long traffic jam has crippled the main approach roads to Manali—particularly the stretch between Kothi (Klath) and the town centre—with vehicles stranded for more than 24 hours in sub-zero temperatures. The congestion, which began on Friday evening (January 23), persisted through Sunday morning, leaving families, children, and elderly travellers trapped inside cars with limited food, water, heating, or access to toilets.
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In a post on X, tourist Bibekananda Dash (@atbbk) said he had been stuck at the same location for 13 hours, underscoring the severity of the situation.
The chaos has been worsened by near-total hotel occupancy in Manali town, as tourists rushed in to witness fresh snowfall after nearly three months of dry weather. While hotels inside the town are operating at close to 100% capacity, many travellers have been unable to reach their booked accommodations due to gridlocked roads and restrictions on vehicle entry. In contrast, overall regional occupancy remains uneven, as hundreds of vehicles remain stuck outside Manali.
This is insane stupidity. Huge rush of people on long weekend to manali hearing snow news, resulting in complete mess on roads, people spent entire night in their vehicles in snow freezing temperatures.
Snow you can see anytime in life dont risk ur life for it. Choose wisely pic.twitter.com/FAPYW3r8Dx— Dr. Vineet Kumar (@vineet_mausam) January 24, 2026
Severe Weather, Blocked Roads
Weather conditions remain extreme. Fresh snowfall—up to 45 cm in parts of Manali—has coated roads in ice, making driving hazardous. Across Himachal Pradesh, 685 roads are currently blocked, including two national highways. The worst-hit districts include Chamba (132 roads blocked), Mandi (126), and Kullu (79). Vehicular movement toward popular destinations such as Kufri from Shimla has also been restricted.
Tourists Share Ordeals
Stranded tourists have taken to social media to share distressing experiences:
Many spent the night inside vehicles without blankets or heating, enduring freezing temperatures.
Some cooked instant noodles or boiled eggs on portable gas stoves by the roadside after restaurants shut down.
Others abandoned their cars and walked up to 7 kilometres through snow to reach Manali.
Several complained of overcharging by private taxis, with fares reportedly reaching ₹10,000–₹15,000 for short 20-km trips, as public transport remained suspended.
Relief Measures and Advisories
Local authorities, including the Manali Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and police teams, have deployed personnel to distribute food, water, and blankets at critical points. Snow clearance operations are ongoing on priority routes, though officials say restoration will take time due to continuous freezing conditions.
Authorities have halted the entry of vehicles into Manali town to ease congestion and are diverting some tourists toward Kullu. Advisories have been issued urging travellers to use 4×4 vehicles with snow chains when heading to high-altitude destinations such as Manali, Kufri, Narkanda, and Naldehra.
Warnings and Public Reaction
Meteorologist Dr. Vineet Kumar described the rush as “reckless,” warning that chasing snowfall at the cost of safety can prove deadly. Journalists and travellers have shared videos showing endless queues of stranded vehicles and families spending nights in cars, underscoring the risks posed by overcrowding in hill stations.
With the Republic Day long weekend ongoing and more snowfall forecast, authorities have urged tourists to postpone non-essential travel, monitor real-time road updates, and follow official advisories from the Himachal Pradesh police and tourism department.
As snow clearance continues, stranded travellers have been advised to remain in vehicles where safe, conserve resources, and cooperate with emergency teams. The unfolding crisis once again highlights the challenges of managing mass tourism in the fragile Himalayan region during peak winter periods.
