What started on Republic Day as a good time to visit has transformed into a struggle for survival for thousands of pilgrims in Himachal Pradesh. A “perfect storm” of the season’s first heavy snowfall and unprecedented visitors has brought the town’s peak hill station in Manali to a halt, with traffic jams extending over 15 km and other vital services such as water and power severely disrupted.
The 15 km Nightmare
The 15 km area from Patlikuhal to Manali has turned into a graveyard of vehicles. It was supposedly taking over 10 to 12 hours (this time, a 15-km journey normally takes 30 minutes) on Sunday, January 25, 2026.
- Stuck overnight: Over 600 visitors were forced to stay in their cars shivering on Saturday and Sunday nights, as temperatures plummeted to -1.1°C.
- Desperate Measures: Viral videos emerged with tourists packing up their cars and walking through knee-deep snow and heavy bags for the streets in trolley, seeking refuge on foot.
- Crushed to Dead: In a tragic instance, a heart patient sent to Mandi from Manali allegedly died after being trapped in the gridlock by the ambulance for nearly four hours.
Think twice before coming to Manali during heavy snowfall.
— Go Himachal (@GoHimachal_) January 25, 2026
People stuck in traffic jams for 25+ hours in sub-zero temperatures. pic.twitter.com/jWJNIlnccA
Infrastructure in Crisis on the Road
A mass of nearly two feet of snow has paralyzed the town’s utility networks.
Power & Water: The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said the state had experienced more than 5,700 distribution transformers along with blackouts in the Kullu-Manali region. There is also a total water shutdown in some wards caused by frozen pipes.
Road Closures: There are now 683 blocked roads throughout Himachal Pradesh, such as the vital NH-03 (Leh-Manali) and the Atal Tunnel, which is still blocked due to treacherous "black ice."
Exorbitant Fees: It’s been reported that stranded travelers have seen private taxi companies charging ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 for 20-km journeys.
#WATCH | Manali, Himachal Pradesh | Traffic congestion can be seen following heavy snowfall in Manali. pic.twitter.com/h2ZokI27iV
— ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2026
Official Response and Warnings
Over 200 police personnel are deployed by the Kullu administration to curb the chaos, but narrow two-lane highways are still bogged down. "We're permitting only 4x4 vehicles around Patlikuhal, in order to save already stranded people," said Manali DSP K.D. Sharma.
Weather Alert
It says the nightmare is likely to deepen. The Met Office already has issued an Orange Alert for January 26–28, which could spell another heavy period of heavy rain and snow. The authorities want tourists to refrain from unnecessary travel to the upper region of Kullu and Mandi, until the roads are cleared, officials noted.
