Heavy snowfall closes roads across Himachal, tourists stranded

In Himachal Pradesh, heavy snowfall has led to the closure of 1,291 roads across the state. Heavy snowfall has blanketed roads in Manali, triggering massive traffic congestion and prompting the local administration to advise tourists against unnecessary travel.They urged visitors to strictly follow official advisories amid worsening weather conditions. Several videos circulating on social media showed cars and buses stranded in long traffic jams, forcing people to spend the night on roads as snow continued to fall. Many vehicles were seen covered in thick layers of snow.

#WATCH | Manali, Himachal Pradesh | Heavy snowfall has covered the roads in Manali, causing traffic congestion. Tourists are advised to avoid unnecessary travel and to follow the instructions issued by the local administration. pic.twitter.com/Ng752coxn9

— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2026

After a prolonged dry spell, Himachal Pradesh witnessed widespread rain and snowfall over the last two days, significantly lowering temperatures across the state and disrupting normal life, even as it raised hopes for farmers, orchardists, and the tourism sector.The roads leading to Himachal's tourist hotspot of Manali in Kullu district are crammed with vehicles, stuck in massive traffic jams for hours.
The entire Kinnaur district and towns in Shimla district, such as Narkanda, Jubbal, Kotkhai, Kumarsain, Kharapathar, Rohru and Chopal are cut off due to heavy snow, a government official said.
The extreme weather prompted IMD to declare severe cold day conditions in Shimla, Manali, Mandi, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur, while severe cold wave conditions prevailed in Kangra district. Gusty winds were also reported, with speeds touching 81 kmph at Narkanda and 70 kmph in Shimla. The IMD has forecast light to moderate rain and snowfall at many places on January 27, followed by a gradual improvement in weather conditions. Minimum temperatures are expected to rise by 2–3 degrees Celsius, while maximum temperatures may increase by 6–10 degrees Celsius in the coming days. Dry weather is likely to prevail across most parts of the state on January 29 and 30.