Manali. Heavy snowfall in the hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh since January 23 has completely disrupted life. Roads in Manali and its surrounding areas have been closed due to the white havoc of nature, leaving hundreds of tourists stranded midway. According to the latest information, snowfall has started once again in Solanganala of Manali on Tuesday morning, in view of which the administration has declared holiday in schools. Traffic on National Highway-3 has been badly affected due to the thick blanket of snow on the roads. Although officials worked to clear the road till Solanganala on Monday, currently only small and light vehicles are allowed to move there. The operation of buses is still disrupted and they are able to go only till Patlikuhal, about 16 kilometers from Manali. There has been a slight improvement in the situation as compared to Sunday, but the difficulties of the tourists have not reduced. Recently, a 15 km long heavy traffic jam was seen in Manali, where tourists were seen walking on foot carrying their luggage in the biting cold.
The district administration is continuously monitoring the situation. Officials say that due to closure of main roads, tourists are confined to their hotels. The work of removing snow from the roads is continuing on a war footing, but it may take some more time to completely restore the traffic system. In view of the slippery roads, only four-wheelers are being allowed to move from Patlikuhal towards Manali. The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert of heavy snowfall for January 27, increasing the risk of complete closure of the Patlikuhal-Manali and Manikaran-Bhuntar roads. Police and administration have issued special advisory for tourists and local residents. People have been advised not to move towards higher reaches, rivers, streams and avalanche prone areas until the weather clears. According to Kullu Police, if the weather worsens then only 4×4 vehicles will be allowed to move. Commuters have been suggested to use alternative routes, such as the Right Bank route. In view of the possibility of bad weather and storm, the administration has urged everyone to remain alert and follow the official information.