Manali Snowfall Strands Thousands of Tourists for 24 Hours, 685 Roads Closed

• Thousands of tourists are stranded in Manali for over 24 hours due to heavy snowfall and an 8-kilometer traffic jam between Kothi and Manali.
• The season's first major snowfall, while boosting tourism, has severely affected movement and caused distress due to cold, fuel shortage, and lack of food/water.
• Across Himachal Pradesh, 685 roads are closed, with Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Mandi, and Kullu districts most affected, impacting essential services.
• The Meteorological Department predicts another active Western Disturbance from January 26-28, bringing heavy snowfall/rain and prompting Yellow/Orange alerts.
• Authorities advise tourists and locals to avoid unnecessary travel, monitor weather updates, and exercise caution due to dangerous road conditions.

Why It Matters: Heavy snowfall in Manali has stranded thousands of tourists and closed hundreds of roads across Himachal Pradesh.