Heavy Snowfall Disrupts Life Across Western Himalayas, Tourists Stranded in Himachal, Uttarakhand and Kashmir

Heavy snowfall across the western Himalayan region over the past 48 hours has caused widespread disruption in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Kashmir, triggering long traffic jams, power outages, road blockages and large-scale stranding of tourists and residents.

In Himachal Pradesh, fresh snowfall ended a prolonged dry spell but severely affected daily life, especially in tourist hubs such as Shimla and Manali.

Traffic Jams, Tourists Stranded

Slippery roads and a surge in visitors during the long Republic Day weekend led to massive traffic snarls, with vehicles crawling for hours. Near Manali, traffic jams stretched up to 15 km.

More than 600 tourists were stranded, many spending the night inside their vehicles after roads came to a standstill.

“We were stuck for more than three hours and then decided to walk nearly 7 km to reach Manali,” said Akshay, a tourist from Delhi. Another visitor, Trisha, said she spent the night in her car and survived on instant noodles.

Complaints of Taxi Overcharging

With public transport suspended, tourists complained of overcharging by private taxi operators.

“Taxi owners are demanding ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 for a 20-km journey,” said Lakshit, a tourist from Delhi.

Hundreds of Roads Blocked

The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said 683 roads, including National Highways NH-03 (Koksar–Darcha) and NH-505 (Gramphu–Batal), remained blocked.

Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh said heavy machinery was being deployed for snow clearance.

“Higher reaches have received up to four feet of snow, making road clearance time-consuming,” he said.

Power and Water Supply Affected

Power and water supply were badly hit, with 5,775 distribution transformers disrupted and 126 water supply schemes affected.

Large parts of Shimla district remained without electricity for over 30 hours, while restoration in rural areas could take up to six days. Bus services on more than 1,200 routes were suspended.

Worst-Hit Districts

The worst-affected districts include Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi, Chamba, Kullu and Sirmaur.

In Lahaul-Spiti alone, 290 roads were blocked, including key routes such as Koksar–Rohtang Pass, Darcha–Sarchu and Gramphu–Batal. The Manali–Lahaul route via the Atal Tunnel also remained closed.

Tourism Continues Despite Disruptions

Despite the disruptions, snowfall led to increased tourist arrivals. Hotel occupancy in Shimla is expected to reach 70–80 percent.

“We are spending from our own pockets to ensure uninterrupted power for tourists,” said Mohinder Seth, president of the Shimla Hotels and Tourism Stakeholders’ Association.

In Manali, hoteliers expect occupancy to rise once roads reopen.

Rescue Operations Underway

Rescue efforts continued across the region. In Himachal Pradesh, 12 tourists stranded near Raghupur Fort in Kullu were rescued by locals and police.

In Uttarakhand, nearly 200 people in 50 vehicles were rescued from snowbound sections of the Yamunotri highway, while more than 30 people were evacuated in Nainital and Tehri Garhwal.

In Kashmir, over 1,600 tourists were rescued from Gulmarg and Tangmarg after heavy snowfall. Gulmarg recorded more than 50 cm of fresh snow.

Fresh Advisory Issued

With another spell of rain and snow forecast between January 26 and 28, the Himachal Pradesh government issued a fresh advisory.

District administrations have been directed to keep emergency centres operational round-the-clock and ensure readiness of snow clearance and rescue teams.

Authorities urged residents and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel and remain cautious during the upcoming wet spell.