In Manali, Life Affected due to Fresh Snowfall and Heavy Rains, Orange Alert Issued
Vehicles stuck in snow and debris due to heavy rain
Manali, Feb 28: Normal life has been disrupted in Manali, a major international tourist destination in Himachal Pradesh, due to fresh snowfall and heavy rain. Current weather conditions have caused a massive number of power outages, impeded roadways, and serious traffic delays. As rivers and streams swell to dangerous levels, the local administration is scrambling to tackle a growing crisis.
The regional snowstorm has led to massive disruptions, especially with several roads blocked by thick snow. Electricity has been out for several hours, leaving residents in the dark and adding to what is already a very difficult situation. The most affected areas include Chandigarh-Manali National Highway which remains shut down, along with over 1,000 stranded vehicles at Rohtang Pass. The police and local administration have been running emergency operations to clear the roads and rescue the stranded vehicles but landslides and debris have blocked their way.
Local officials including Manali DSP have been working around the clock to remove vehicles and ensure people’s safety. The DSP even worked till late in the evening to coordinate efforts for clearing the routes blocked due to fallen trees, but the situation is still grim. Roads are a treacherous combination of ice, snow and debris from torrential rains and blizzard conditions, which can create deadly driving conditions. In some localities, vehicles now find themselves trapped in snowdrifts, which further complicate rescue efforts.
Besides the closure of roads, rivers and streams in Manali have also swollen up, inundating several areas. Roads have become drains, and low-lying areas are underwater, disrupting normal life and posing a grave public safety threat. In some places, homes are inundated with floodwaters, making a bad situation even worse for residents.
Rangdi, on the Manali-Chandigarh National Highway-3, is one of the worst-hit areas, where a flooded road has become a pond and all vehicular movement is stuck. Roads are now blocked with stones and debris as severe weather conditions disrupt travel. Where a drive of 4 km used to take 10–15 minutes, that stretch now takes over 45 minutes, primarily due to dangerous road conditions.
The Kullu district, located nearby, has also received heavy rains that have swollen rivers and streams, with vehicles being swept away by the force of the water. The situation is especially worrisome when considering that many roads were covered with ice, which has created slick and dangerous surfaces. Under these conditions, travel in the region is extremely dangerous, and local authorities have advised people to exercise extreme caution.
Orange alert has been imposed in the state by the Meteorological Department as heavy snowfall and rain is expected to intensify in the next few hours. The alert has raised fears that the worsening weather may lead to more flooding and landslides, which will worsen the already bad situation in Manali and adjoining areas. With the opening of the gates of Pandoh Dam, the water levels have crossed the danger mark, and the people living near rivers and streams are also in danger, making the situation even more serious.
The tourism industry is also undergoing a deterioration of tourist interest as the daily life in Manali is under the impact of current conditions also. With roads blocked, power outages and the inherent dangers of the extreme weather, many tourists are likely to cancel or postpone trips to the region. The weather crisis threatens to sharply cut tourism to the region, which draws thousands of visitors every year.
However, the district administration and police are working 24 hours to bring the situation under control. A good number of rescue operations are under process at the moment and this situation is expected to improve shortly as blocks in the roads are cleared and power supply is restored. With the blessings of divine grace and good will from local people, Manali will also recover and life will get back to normal soon,” read the statement.
With Manali in for more rain and snow, the administration appeals to residents and visitors to take care and avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve. The orange alert still on, the authorities are ready for any further escalation of the situation with weather.
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