Himachal Pradesh is facing a big problem with a huge traffic jam near the Atal Tunnel and Rohtang La. A video from ANI shows that the Atal Tunnel, which connects Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti districts, is full of cars stuck in traffic.
The road connecting Manali and Keylong, important for reaching Rohtang Pass and the Atal Tunnel, is now like a parking lot. Traffic is stuck between Manali and Vashisth Chowk, Potato Ground to Rangadi, and Solang Nala to Atal Tunnel. The cars are bumper-to-bumper, causing a long line.
This traffic issue is not only at Atal Tunnel but also on the way to Shimla. The road connecting Shimla to Shoghi is also facing a lot of traffic.
Police information says that on Sunday alone, about 65,000 people in more than 12,000 cars went through the Atal Tunnel. This big rush is happening just before Christmas Eve, as many tourists go to places like Kasol and Manali in Himachal Pradesh to celebrate Christmas.
Because of this daily traffic problem, there are long lines at the Atal Tunnel, which is an important road link on both sides of the Rohtang Pass.
The police in Himachal Pradesh think that around one lakh tourists will come to the state before New Year's Eve, making the situation worse. In Shimla, more than 55,000 vehicles have entered in the past few days. The Atal Tunnel has seen a lot of traffic, with about 55,000 vehicles passing through in the last three days.
