Tourists cheer as Manali, Kufri get fresh snowfall ahead of New Year

Meanwhile, a large number of tourists stranded in over 400 vehicles near South Portal of the Atal Tunnel in Rohtang Pass following snowfall have been rescued, officials said on Friday.

The vehicles were stuck as slippery conditions prevailed after snowfall at the tunnel on the Manali-Leh highway and adjoining areas on Thursday.

Police teams from Keylong and Manali jointly launched a rescue operation, which took 10-12 hours and concluded around 4 am on Friday, and the vehicles moved to their respective destinations, the officials said.

While Dalhousie was covered in 4 inch snow, Atal Tunnel and Rohtang Top witnessed 17 inch and 18 inch snow respectively.

However, the tourists said they were thrilled to see and enjoy the snow. Hoteliers said that the unexpected snowfall has prompted more tourists footfall. “Initially I was not convinced to travel. But looking at photos, I feel it will be exciting to travel in the snow and experience a New Year’s Eve in such a weather. Besides it will be a welcome change from other polluted cities,” said Dinesh Sharma, a resident of West Delhi.

The hotel associations said that Friday’s snowfall has added to the last-minute bookings. “We are looking at 55-70 per cent occupancy on the New Year’s Eve. Snowfall has surely generated curiosity among the tourists. We are bracing for a good New Year’s Eve as many hotels are offering packages,” said Ashwani Bhamba from Hotel And Restaurant Association of Dharamshala.

Some hoteliers are offering several lucrative options to draw crowds. A music festival is being organised by local and national artists in Shimla’s Fairview Forest Hill Road. Several parties are being organised by the city’s breweries. The new year gatherings are expected to go on till late night.

The traffic police have created separate travel routes for area, including Kangra, Dharamshala and Shimla to ensure that the movement is smooth during peak rush at New Years Eve. The police will also be maintaining a vigil through drones.