Chaos at Atal Tunnel: 1,000 Vehicles Trapped in Heavy Snow
A dream vacation turned into a freezing nightmare for thousands. Specifically, a sudden and heavy snowstorm trapped over 1,000 vehicles near the Atal Tunnel on Sunday night. Initially, tourists were enjoying the fresh flakes in Sissu and Lahaul. Now, many have spent nearly 20 hours stuck inside their cars in sub-zero chills. Consequently, the Kullu police and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had to launch a massive joint rescue mission.
The “Freezing Night” at 10,000 Feet
Look, the snow began on Sunday evening and did not stop through Monday. Previously, the roads were clear enough for travel. However, the heavy accumulation made the Manali-Leh highway very slippery and risky. Indeed, many tourists were caught off guard. While 700 cars were guided back to Manali by Sunday night, another 300 remained stuck until Monday afternoon.
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Rescue Update:
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Total Vehicles Stranded: Over 1,000.
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Snow Depth: More than two feet near the tunnel.
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Current Status: Most guided back; 100 still stuck at Dhundi.
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Temperature: Dropped to 2.9°C in Manali and -2.5°C in Tabo.
Weather Alerts: What to Expect Next
Actually, the chill is here to stay. Specifically, the Meteorological Centre in Shimla has issued new warnings for the week.
| Date | Warning Level | Expected Weather |
| March 17–18 | Yellow Alert | Light rain, snow, and thunderstorms |
| March 19 | Orange Alert | Heavy rain and snow across Himachal |
| March 20 | Green | Weather expected to clear |
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Travel Advisory: Routes Closed
Initially, the Kullu police closed the highway at Nehru Kund near Manali. Furthermore, Lahaul-Spiti police have asked locals and tourists to avoid all travel. So, high passes like Rohtang, Shinku La, and Kunzum are now completely shut. Indeed, it rained 249% more than normal in the last 24 hours. Therefore, landslides and skidding remain high-risk threats.
Global Context: War and Weather
While India battles snow, global news remains tense. Actually, the West Asia war enters a dangerous phase. Specifically, Iran has called recent hits on fuel depots “ecocide.” Moreover, elites are pressing the US to hit Iran harder. So, while the “Blue Sparrow” hit has unsettled the Gulf, the world is watching both the humanitarian crisis in the snow and the war in the desert.
In short, the mountains are beautiful but dangerous right now. Next, I can check if the Rohtang Pass permits have been cancelled for the rest of the week. Right.
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