Watch: Tourist drives car with doors open on busy Manali road. Kullu Police issues challan

The incident happened on the road from Manali to Atal Tunnel. (Image: @shubhamtorres09/X)

The holiday season is upon us and people are thronging popular tourist destinations for a much-needed breather. The footfall has resulted in heavy traffic jams and massive crowds in places such as Kullu and Manali. Videos showing long queues of vehicles lined on the road from Manali to Atal Tunnel have surfaced online. Amid all this, a video of tourist driving his car with the door open has attracted widespread anger.

Shared on X by a user account @shubhamtorres09, the clip featured a man driving his car with his door open on the road from Manali to Atal Tunnel. The man on the passenger seat had his door open as well and was hanging out the car. The incident happened amid heavy traffic jam on the road.

“Kindly don’t create menace. Manali-Solang-Atal Tunnel,” read the caption of the post.

Kindly don't create menace
Manali - Solang - Atal Tunnel pic.twitter.com/thstEfe8HA

— Weatherman Shubham (@shubhamtorres09) December 24, 2023

Since being shared, the video amassed close to six lakh views and hundreds of furious reactions from social media users. Several people demanded action against the tourists.

“@himachalpolice, kindly take action,” a user wrote. Another user commented, “We Indians love creating menace.”

“Who do they think they are? In a Bollywood film?! I think they should seal the tunnel back up, better that way,” a third user remarked.

A fourth user added, “These are not tourists, they are criminals and must be treated like that only.”

As the footage gained traction online, the Kullu Police took note and issued a challan of Rs 3,500 against the tourists. The action was confirmed by the police department in a Facebook post.

Well done @KulluPolice pic.twitter.com/VTyAeJMsw6

— कुनाल (@Devinderseraj) December 24, 2023

Meanwhile, the craze to visit Atal Tunnel propelled hotel occupancy in key hill resorts of Shimla, Manali to 90 per cent, as a record 28,210 vehicles crossed the Atal Tunnel on a single day on Sunday (December 24), PTI reported.

"We welcome the tourists, who have come to the State in lakhs," said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, adding that Himachal has stood up again after the disaster to welcome the tourists. He also praised the efforts of district administration and the Police jawans for efficiently managing the huge tourist rush and extending helping hand to few struck up in snow particularly at North and South Portal of Rohtang Tunnel at minus 12 degree C, according to PTI.