8-Km Traffic Jam in Manali:The heavy snowfall during the past two days has created complete disruption of daily activities and transportation services which normally operate in Manali. The first major snow event of the season coincided with the Republic Day long weekend, drawing an unprecedented number of tourists eager to experience the snow. The combination of extreme weather conditions and rising visitor numbers brought immediate infrastructure breakdowns to the area.
8-Km Traffic Jam in Manali
The main routes leading into Manali experienced vehicle slowdown and complete vehicle stoppage because of continuous snow and icy road conditions. The Kothi–Manali national highway section experienced total traffic stoppage which created an 8-kilometre traffic jam. The snow accumulation reached two feet in several areas while roads developed hazardous black ice conditions which made driving almost impossible.
Tourists Trapped Overnight
The traffic snarl turned into a crisis situation for travellers. Multiple reports indicate that some people spent more than 24 hours trapped inside their vehicles while they had only access to small amounts of food and rest. “We have been stuck here since last evening,” a tourist told NDTV. Another traveller from Delhi noted that his group was forced to spend the night in their car because hotels were full.
One traveller told reporters that the group had been stuck since the previous evening, unable to sleep, eat properly, or access basic facilities. The presence of children and elderly passengers among those who remained trapped created additional difficulties for those needing special assistance.
Stranded Visitors Abandon Vehicles, Trek Through Snow
The visitors left their cars behind when road conditions worsened and they could not move because deep snow made it impossible to travel. The people walked between 10 to 20 kilometers through freezing temperatures to find either shelter or the Manali town center. The trek became extremely difficult because it required families and older visitors to complete the journey.
Manali Nightmare: 8-km Jam, Hotels 100% Occupied, Tourists Stranded On Road
NDTV’s @ghazalimohammad brings all the details from Manali pic.twitter.com/zt3V35PSwg
— NDTV (@ndtv) January 25, 2026
The traffic situation in Patlikuhl and main exit routes back home created additional traffic jams which extended beyond 10 kilometers because visitors attempted to leave the area or find safer spots.
Himachal: Dharamshala and Manali receives heavy snowfall; tourists rejoice
8-Km Traffic Jam in Manali: Administration and Rescue Efforts
The local authorities have dedicated their efforts to snow removal while they work to restore road access throughout the day and night. The snow clearance equipment and relief teams were sent to critical areas while officials recommended that tourists stay away from the area until weather conditions became better.
People spending the night in their cars in Manali this is Manali as of this morning. What’s going on?
Earlier, people would stay home or avoid travelling during such extreme weather. Now, everyone wants to be “part of it,” completely ignoring the risks and even potential damage… pic.twitter.com/kdBQiTUIlf
— Rattan Dhillon (@ShivrattanDhil1) January 24, 2026
The authorities needed to manage the situation because their efforts failed to handle the large number of vehicles which combined with the poor weather conditions. The state government issued warnings about upcoming western disturbances which would bring additional snowfall to the area, creating dangerous travel conditions for the next few days.
Impact Beyond Traffic
The heavy snowfall created problems for both transportation systems and snowfall. The state of Himachal Pradesh has over 600 blocked roads which include both major highways and rural routes that remain closed across different districts.
Multiple affected areas reported interruptions to both power and water service. News agency ANI quoted another stranded visitor: “We have been stuck in the car all night. There are children with us; we are in a lot of trouble. There is no toilet facility here… The administration should have made better arrangements for the snowfall.”
The snowstorm produced ripple effects which resulted in deadly outcomes when medical transport experienced delays. A report showed that traffic and weather conditions prevented a patient from reaching urgent medical treatment which demonstrated how infrastructure failures create dangerous situations during severe weather conditions.
