No Escape: Viral Visuals From Himachal Show Tourist Surge, Traffic Chaos Near Rohtang Region
No Escape: Viral Visuals From Himachal Show Tourist Surge, Traffic Chaos Near Rohtang Region
Heavy snowfall, long vehicle queues and Delhi’s ‘Very Poor’ AQI push tourists towards mountain air ahead of year-end
Viral images and videos showing long lines of vehicles stuck amid snow-covered roads in Himachal Pradesh have left the internet stunned, with many users remarking that it looks like people are “fleeing polluted cities for fresh air”.
The visuals, widely shared on social media, initially led to speculation that massive traffic congestion had hit Rohtang Pass. However, officials later clarified that the scenes were from the Granfuu (Grampu) snow point in Lahaul-Spiti, where tourist inflow spiked sharply over the weekend.
What surprised many was the timing. There is no long holiday stretch yet, nor has the Christmas–New Year peak officially begun. Despite this, a sudden surge of tourists arrived in large numbers, leading to congestion on narrow mountain roads, even as heavy snowfall and biting cold continued in the region.
According to officials, access beyond certain points has been restricted. Only 4×4 vehicles are currently allowed towards Rohtang Pass and Shinkula Pass, forcing most private vehicles to halt at the Grampu snow point. The situation worsened after several tourists parked vehicles haphazardly along the roadside, disrupting traffic movement and causing delays.
The rush is being directly linked to worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR. On Tuesday, Delhi’s AQI touched 380, falling in the Very Poor category, with dense smog reducing visibility and making breathing uncomfortable. Although there was slight improvement on Wednesday, the AQI remained high at 329, still classified as Very Poor. Many residents are believed to be heading to the hills in search of cleaner air and respite.
For the tourism industry in Himachal, which had been struggling after recent natural disasters, the unexpected crowd has come as a boost. Hotels from Shimla to Manali are already nearing full occupancy for Christmas and New Year, catching both traders and local authorities off guard.
Lahaul-Spiti Superintendent of Police Shivani Mehla said the administration is actively managing the situation.
“Tourist arrivals have increased, but we will not allow a jam-like situation. Additional police force is being deployed at the Grampu snow point,” she said.
To strengthen traffic management in the Kullu–Manali belt, police have been equipped with eight new modern vehicles, including five electric vehicles deployed with environmental considerations in mind. Special patrol vehicles have been introduced for snowbound routes, while 24-hour monitoring is underway from Bajaura to Manali to curb overspeeding. Manali city has been divided into multiple sectors, with additional police personnel called in from neighbouring districts.
The tourist spillover is no longer limited to Manali. Popular destinations such as Kasol (Parvati Valley), Jibhi and Tirthan Valley (Banjar) are also witnessing heavy footfall. Given the narrow approach roads, police deployment has been increased at sensitive points between Bhuntar and Kasol as well.
Authorities have urged travellers planning weekend trips to strictly use designated parking areas and follow local administration guidelines to avoid worsening congestion in the fragile mountain ecosystem.
