Snowfall in Himachal: Tourist Enjoy First Snowfall of New Year, Movement halted at the Atal Tunnel

Friyana Munshi

Manali/Dharamshala, January 2, 2021: Snowfall has started in Himachal Pradesh as the weather changed. Tourists are enjoying the first snowfall in the New Year. Snowfall has started at both the ends of the Atal Tunnel.

On Saturday, tourists who visited various destinations were welcomed by the snowflakes. The tourists flocked to see the snow falling. Snowfall has also started on Dhauladhar hills in district Kangra. High-altitude areas of Kinnaur, Sirmaur, Shimla, and Chamba districts are also experiencing snowfall.

In the morning, the tourists were able to take in the sights of the Atal Tunnel, but in the afternoon, seeing the heavy snowfall on both ends of the Atal Tunnel, the police stopped the tourists from going towards the tunnel. Only four-wheeled vehicles were allowed to cross the tunnel. Tourist vehicles that reached Sissu were also sent back as the snowfall intensified.

The celebrations of New Year are still in the air. Tourists from other states continue to flock in. Tourists kept coming in even on Saturday since morning. On Christmas, 3303 tourist vehicles entered Manali from other states, while on December 31st, the figure reached 3389. On January 1st, about 2000 tourist vehicles reached Manali.

SDM Manali Raman Gharsangi said that the movement of tourists from the Atal Tunnel will depend on the weather conditions.