Manali Traffic Chaos: Tourists Flee Delhi, Find Gridlock

Manali and its surrounding areas are facing immense traffic jams as thousands of tourists flock to the region for the winter holidays, with many escaping Delhi's air quality. Daily arrivals of external vehicles are substantial, particularly on weekends, overwhelming local infrastructure and causing significant gridlock on routes to popular destinations like the Atal Tunnel and Rohtang Pass.

Tourists, including those from Delhi, are expressing disappointment, having journeyed to Manali hoping for snow and a break from urban pollution, only to encounter severe traffic congestion and a lack of snowfall. The situation is expected to worsen as the holiday period progresses, prompting the Kullu administration to prioritize traffic management strategies and deploy additional forces.

Beyond Manali, other areas like Tirthan Valley and the highway connecting Aut to Jalori Jot are also experiencing daily traffic disruptions due to the surge in visitors. While the weather department forecasts light rain and snowfall in higher reaches around December 20-21, the primary concern for authorities remains effectively managing the overwhelming tourist traffic throughout the peak season.