Video: Massive tourist rush triggers traffic gridlock on Manali-Rohtang route

A huge influx of tourists during the long weekend has led to severe traffic congestion on the Manali-Rohtang route in Himachal Pradesh, with a 50-km journey taking up to eight hours for many travellers.

Driven by soaring temperatures across the plains and the attraction of late-season snow, thousands of tourists have flocked to Rohtang Pass, located at an altitude of around 13,000 feet. The rush resulted in long queues of vehicles stretching for kilometres, bringing traffic movement to a near-complete standstill on Saturday.

Visuals from the area showed an endless line of cars and tourist vehicles crawling along the mountain road, with many visitors stepping out to walk around and enjoy the snow-covered surroundings while waiting for traffic to move.

Tourists who left Manali early in the morning reportedly reached Rohtang only by afternoon after spending several hours stuck in traffic. Local authorities deployed police personnel to manage the situation, but the overwhelming number of vehicles continued to strain arrangements.

Officials estimate that around 11,000 vehicles are currently passing through the Atal Tunnel daily, with tourist numbers expected to rise further in the coming days.