White Christmas across HP, J&K sees major surge in tourists, closure of roads and 4 deaths

Fresh snowfall has blanketed tourist hubs like Shimla and Manali in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh, turning them into a white wonderland. Jammu and Kashmir also witnessed fresh snowfall recently, and temperatures went several degrees below freezing, bringing cheer to tourists visiting these places for the Christmas holiday and New Year celebrations.

However, this has added to the woes of drivers facing slippery conditions.

While people are getting to experience a ‘white Christmas’ in Shimla, Manali, and other tourist hubs of Himachal Pradesh, snowfall has led to the closure of over 200 roads, a surge in hotel bookings, and four deaths due to vehicle skidding incidents.

White Christmas

Shimla, Manali, and several other towns in Himachal Pradesh, popular among tourists, have been receiving snowfall, making this Dec 25 a ‘white Christmas’, a highly desired sight for tourists around this time of the year.

Social media has been flooded with images of Shimla and Manali beautifully draped in a blanket of snow. The MeT department has reportedly predicted rain and snow at isolated places in some parts of the state, Shimla in particular, from Dec 27 evening to Dec 29 afternoon, with the downpour peaking on Dec 28.

Shimla Hotel and Tourism Stakeholders' Association president MK Seth was quoted as saying by news agency PTI that hotel occupancy in Shimla was at more than 70 %. The snowfall led to a 30 % increase in room bookings, he added.

Roads closed

While the fresh snowfall across the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh has brought cheer to the tourists, at least 223 roads, including three national highways, were closed in the state due to the same, officials said on Dec 24. About 223 roads, including the national highways between Attari and Leh, Sanj to Aut in Kullu district, and Khab Sangam in Kinnaur district, and Gramphoo in Lahaul and Spiti district, were closed for traffic, PTI reported on Dec 24.

Tourists in hundreds of vehicles stranded near the Atal Tunnel were safely rescued till late on Dec 23, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue and Disaster) Onkar Sharma was quoted as saying. Sharma advised the tourists to adhere to the advisories issued by the district administration and the police, listen to suggestions from locals, and refrain from driving in the snow.