Shimla, Jan 19 (UNI) The tourist movement continues to swell in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh, and the district administration of Lahaul Spiti has issued a strong advisory warning visitors against risky travel amid deteriorating weather conditions.
Despite light snowfall and black ice already rendering roads slippery, a large number of tourists have been heading towards the tribal district, driven by largely dry conditions in other hill resorts.
Authorities say this sudden surge has placed immense pressure on traffic management, particularly on vulnerable mountain stretches such as the Darcha–Shinkula axis and interior roads leading towards Kaza and high-altitude villages.
Officials cautioned that fresh western disturbances expected from Thursday and Friday onwards are likely to intensify snowfall and sharply worsen road conditions. In such a scenario, vehicles may get stranded for prolonged periods as rescue and evacuation operations become extremely difficult, if not impossible.
Prolonged stranding in sub-zero temperatures, officials warned, could pose serious health risks, especially for tourists unprepared for harsh winter conditions.
The police advisory strictly prohibits movement beyond permitted locations and urges visitors to return in time as per official instructions. Tourists have been asked not to halt, camp, or park vehicles at unsafe spots, and to completely avoid riverbanks, streams, and landslide-prone areas. Rash driving on snow-covered roads, the advisory states, will invite strict legal action.
Authorities underlined that what appears as an attractive snowfall destination can quickly turn into a life-threatening situation if weather warnings are ignored.
With traffic congestion already reported on key highways, officials appealed to tourists, particularly those packing their bags to reconsider travel plans, monitor official advisories closely, and place safety above adventure. Public cooperation, they stressed, remains crucial to prevent avoidable tragedies in the fragile Himalayan terrain.
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