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KULLU/SHIMLA: Massive traffic jams continued in and around Manali on Monday as thousands of tourists thronged the town for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
A majority of the people after arriving in Manali headed for the Atal Tunnel, leading to traffic jams on this stretch.
According to Lahaul and Spiti police, record-breaking traffic movement was witnessed at the Atal Tunnel in the last 24 hours.
“As many as 28,210 vehicles passed through the Atal Tunnel, highest since its opening,” said the police department.
On Monday, around 9,600 vehicles had reached the Atal Tunnel between 8am and 4pm.
Tourists and locals remained stuck in traffic jams at multiple spots between Manali and Atal Tunnel, mainly in Solang and Dhundi. Traffic jams were also seen in the nearby Sissu in Lahaul and Spiti.
Many locals complained of absence of cops to regulate the traffic.
Congestions were also witnessed on the roads leading to Tirthan and Parvati valleys due to heavy tourist rush and lack of proper traffic management. Jams in these two valleys were also seen on stretches that were damaged during monsoon floods and hadn’t been repaired properly yet.
Traffic moved at snail’s pace near the Pandoh dam, where a temporary road is in use after a stretch of the main highway was washed away in a flashflood in August this year.
Both Lahaul and Spiti and Kullu police have issued traffic advisories, asking tourists to avoid driving in early morning and evening hours as build-up of black ice could lead to accidents. The police have also restricted all traffic movement up to Darcha in Lahaul and Spiti.
Meanwhile, a tourist vehicle fell into the river after slipping off near Tandi bridge in Lahaul and Spiti district on Sunday evening. All the tourists in the vehicle were rescued by local cops as the river water level was low due to winters. According to the police, the tourists suffered injuries, but were safe.
4,500 vehicles enter Shimla in nearly 12 hrs
Around 4,500 vehicles entered Shimla between 8am and 7.30pm on Monday. In last three days, 43,137 vehicles crossed the Shoghi barrier of which, 20,231 were from other states.
Heavy tourist influx is being witnessed in Shimla, many of whom expecting to witness snow. However, snow has eluded Shimla and its surrounding areas till now. Winter carnival that started in the state capital is also drawing huge crowd.
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