SHIMLA: Right now, it seems like everyone has their sights set on Himachal Pradesh, creating a traffic jam on the roads leading to popular tourist spots this Christmas eve. Even without the usual snowy charm in Shimla, there has been a surge of 55,345 vehicles in the last 72 hours. The police are working tirelessly to keep traffic flowing smoothly.
While snow is a big attraction for tourists, Shimla hasn’t seen any this time. However, the 9.2-km-long Atal Tunnel Rohtang, the world’s longest tunnel at 10,000 feet, is buzzing with activity. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is optimistic, mentioning that despite a tough time post-monsoon, the state is ready to welcome tourists again.
In the past week, Shimla’s temperature has been higher than New Delhi’s. Sukhu shared that around 65,000 tourists visited Atal Tunnel, Rohtang, on Sunday, and over 12,000 vehicles transported them. Despite a weather forecast predicting sunshine, the hope for a white Christmas lingers.
Sukhu praised the district administration and police for efficiently managing the tourist rush, especially at the challenging North and South portals of Rohtang Tunnel, even in minus 12 degrees Celsius temperatures. DGP Kundu highlighted the round-the-clock efforts of local administration and police to smoothly handle traffic at Atal Tunnel, extending help to visitors stuck in the snow.