Manali comes to standstill: 8-km Jam, hotels occupied, hundreds tourists stranded on road
PTC News Desk: Manali witnessed unprecedented rush causing widespread disruptions after an intense spell of traffic brought the hill station to a standstill, leaving hundreds of tourists stranded in massive traffic jams for hours. On one stretch, between Kothi and Manali, the jam stretched for 8 km.
Hotel occupancy is at 100% in Manali; due to the extreme rush, people are now moving to Kullu.
Out of the 685 roads blocked across the state, the highest number — 292 — were in the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti. Other affected districts included Chamba with 132 blocked roads, Mandi with 126, Kullu with 79, Sirmour with 29, Kinnaur with 20, Kangra with four, Una with two, and Solan with one.
Officials reported severe traffic congestion at several key bottlenecks, including the police station area, Volvo stand, Rangri, Tibetan School, Aloo Ground, and 17 Mile. Vehicles struggled to maintain control on snow-covered roads, resulting in minor accidents and property damage. The situation worsened as tourist vehicles became stuck on narrow stretches, adding to the disruption.
Despite peak winter season, hotel occupancy in Manali remained relatively low at around 55–60 percent, as many tourists were stranded on approach roads and unable to enter the town.
The district administration stayed on high alert throughout the night, with relief teams continuously assisting stranded travelers by providing food and drinking water at critical locations. Manali SDM Raman Kumar Sharma personally monitored relief and traffic operations, urging tourists to remain patient and cooperate with authorities.
- PTC NEWS
