Manali Snowfall Chaos: Thousands of Tourists Stranded for 24 Hours in Massive Traffic Jam

• Recent snowfall in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, led to a massive traffic jam, stranding thousands of tourists for over 24 hours.
• The Republic Day weekend saw a surge in tourist arrivals, overwhelming the region's infrastructure and causing an 8-kilometer jam between Kothi and Manali.
• Tourists faced severe cold, fuel shortages, and lack of food/drink, with many forced to spend the night in their vehicles.
• Beyond Manali, 685 roads across Himachal Pradesh are blocked due to snowfall, with Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Mandi, and Kullu districts severely affected.
• The Meteorological Department forecasts heavy snowfall and rain, issuing yellow and orange alerts, urging caution for tourists.

Why It Matters: Manali's first major snowfall caused severe traffic jams, stranding thousands of tourists and blocking hundreds of roads.