Manali experienced its first snowfall of the season on Monday, turning the popular hill station into a picturesque winter wonderland. However, the heavy snowfall also exposed the dangers of navigating the region’s icy and treacherous roads, leading to disruptions and tragic incidents.
A video shared on Instagram by a creator named Hamza Murtaza, amassing close to 27 million views, highlighted the perilous conditions. Vehicles were seen skidding uncontrollably on Manali’s narrow, snow-covered roads. In one alarming clip, a car slid dangerously close to the edge of a gorge, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic fall.
The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) reported that 87 roads across Himachal Pradesh, including the Atal Tunnel–Leh National Highway 3 near Manali’s Rohtang Pass, were closed due to heavy snowfall.
In the Lahaul region, snow and slippery roads stranded over 800 people in 490 vehicles. The Lahaul and Spiti police launched extensive rescue operations, successfully evacuating those stranded since Sunday evening. Similar disruptions were reported in the upper Shimla region, where several roads were rendered impassable.
Amidst the chaos, a tragic accident claimed the life of 49-year-old Bhishan Garg, a tourist from New Delhi, in the Lahaul-Spiti district. Garg’s car skidded on an icy road while attempting to overtake other vehicles stuck in traffic. The vehicle lost control and collided with a stationary tipper. Garg succumbed to his injuries, while three other passengers sustained injuries in the crash.
In the wake of these incidents, authorities issued advisories urging drivers to take precautions when travelling through the snow-laden region. Drivers were advised to equip their vehicles with snow chains, maintain low speeds, and avoid overtaking on icy roads to ensure safety.
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