Stuck after snow, 8,000 tourists rescued in Kullu
A major rescue operation was launched yesterday after around 1,500 vehicles were stranded in snow at Dhundi and the north and south portals of the Atal Tunnel on the Manali-Leh Highway in Kullu district. Around 8,000 stranded tourists were rescued. The snowfall in the region made the road extremely slippery, leading to long traffic jams and leaving many tourists stranded in their vehicles overnight.
A large number of tourists travelling in their own cars or taxis from plains were stranded and many of them had no experience of driving on snowy roads. The situation worsened as more snow accumulated, blocking traffic and preventing vehicular movement. Many tourists were stranded in their vehicles throughout the night in freezing cold and were made to endure what they described as a “horrible experience”.
DSP, Manali, KD Sharma said, “The rescue operation, which began at 2 pm on Monday, continued through the night. By 10 am on Tuesday, all vehicles were evacuated and all 8,000 stranded tourists were rescued.”
He added, “The operation was carried out in challenging conditions, with police personnel working tirelessly in sub-zero temperatures to ensure the safety of people.”
The DSP said, “Policemen worked in freezing temperatures and led the rescue operation throughout the night. Due to their efforts all stranded tourists were safely evacuated and moved towards Manali.”
Meanwhile, in the Lahaul valley, police officials were seen manually clearing snow with shovels to help evacuate vehicles. SP, Lahaul and Spiti, Mayank Chaudhary highlighted the extreme weather conditions faced by the rescue teams. He said that temperatures in the region had dipped well below the freezing point.
Heavy snowfall also affected the movement of vehicles along the Manali-Leh highway, causing delays and complications for travellers. The authorities concerned are urging tourists to exercise caution while travelling in the region and to stay updated on weather conditions before setting out.
The DSP said, “Tourists are advised to take necessary precautions and be aware of the weather conditions while travelling in the region.”
As the weather conditions in the region continue to fluctuate, police and rescue teams remain on high alert to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. The authorities have urged all travellers to consider the weather forecast before attempting to navigate the challenging terrain.
Similarly, in Kinnaur district, the police rescued around 30 tourists from West Bengal, New Delhi and Uttarakhand, who were stranded on the National highway between Chango and Maling villages.
The tourists, who were travelling in Tempo travellers and taxis, were stranded due to heavy snowfall. A police team reached the spot and rescued them with the help of locals.
Meanwhile, the higher reaches of Mandi, Kullu-Manali and Lahaul-Spiti experienced snowfall while lower regions of these district experienced rain. Due to the snowfall, temperature has plummeted drastically in the region.
