Manali, December 11, 2024 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau)- Manali witnessed its first snowfall of the season on Monday, transforming the popular tourist destination into a picturesque winter wonderland. However, a darker side of the heavy snowfall surfaced, revealing the hazards of navigating the region’s snow-covered, perilous roads.
A video that went viral on Instagram, with over 24 million views, showed cars skidding out of control on the icy, narrow roads of Manali. In one instance, a vehicle was seen sliding dangerously close to the edge of a gorge, narrowly avoiding a tragic fall.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), as many as 87 roads, including the Atari-Leh National Highway 3 near Manali’s Rohtang Pass, were closed in Himachal Pradesh.
Over 800 people stranded in 490 vehicles in Lahaul due to the snowfall were rescued since Sunday evening, according to the Lahaul and Spiti police. Snow and slippery road conditions had also disrupted vehicular traffic on several roads in the upper Shimla region.
Summary: Manali’s winter beauty is accompanied by dangerous snowy roads, with cars skidding due to icy conditions. Tourists are urged to take extra precautions while traveling