Manali Snowfall Chaos: Tourists Stranded, 685 Roads Blocked Across Himachal Pradesh

• Manali experienced a massive tourist surge and 8-kilometre traffic jam during Republic Day weekend after the season's first major snowfall.
• Thousands of tourists were stranded for over 24 hours, facing harsh cold, fuel shortages, and lack of food/water.
• Hotels in Manali reached full occupancy, forcing many to seek accommodation in lower Kullu district.
• Across Himachal Pradesh, 685 roads are blocked, with Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Mandi, and Kullu districts severely affected.
• The Meteorological Department issued yellow and orange alerts, forecasting more heavy snowfall and rain from January 26-28.

Why It Matters: Heavy snowfall in Manali led to tourist chaos, traffic jams, and widespread road closures across Himachal Pradesh.