Tourist influx brings Himachal Pradesh to a standstill: Traffic chaos and reckless stunts on the rise

A massive influx of tourists to celebrate Christmas and New Year in Himachal Pradesh has brought the traffic in the state to a standstill, the roads linking various tourist spots in the area are experiencing significant traffic congestion. The police in Lahaul and Spiti have deployed novel methods and used drone cameras to monitor the traffic conditions of the area. The increase in the number of tourists has also resulted in reckless car stunts on the rise.

The video footage from the drone surveillance reveals long lines of vehicles clogging the roads and a shortage of parking spaces for tourist cars. The increased number of vehicles leading up to the festive season has also created a challenging law enforcement scenario in the area. To avoid the traffic congestion, a man drove his SUV into the Chandra River in Lahaul Valley, a video of which went viral on social media, he was later fined by the police. 

"Recently, a video went viral in which a Thar is crossing the river Chandra in District Lahaul Spiti. The said vehicle has been penalized under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and to ensure that no one commits such an offence in the future, the district police have deployed personnel at the said place,” said SP Mayank Chaudhry. 

Amidst the chaotic traffic conditions, numerous individuals engaged in reckless car stunts, creating a disturbance. A video depicting a man driving his car with open doors circulated widely on social media. The driver was observed hanging precariously from one of the doors. Taking notice of the video, the Kullu police imposed a fine of ₹3,500.

The congestion extended to the Manali-Rohtang highway and roads leading to the Atal Tunnel, resulting in a traffic gridlock. The sheer volume of vehicles exacerbated the situation, marked by insufficient public spaces and parking facilities.

Local authorities are grappling with the challenge of managing the surge in traffic during peak hours.