Overview
- The India Meteorological Department projects light to moderate rain or snowfall at some places on December 31 and at many places on January 1 across Himachal Pradesh.
- Hotel occupancy has climbed to about 85% in Manali with hoteliers expecting 90–95% if snow arrives, while stakeholders in Shimla and Dharamshala anticipate 50–60% occupancy.
- Shimla Police have deployed more than 400 personnel with 24x7 posts for traffic, parking and safety at key spots including the Ridge, Mall Road, Kufri and Narkanda.
- Tourist hubs such as Solang Valley, Rohtang Pass, the Atal Tunnel, Mall Road and Atal Chowk are reporting heavy footfall with thousands of vehicles heading toward Manali.
- Light snowfall has been observed in higher reaches like Kokhsar in Lahaul-Spiti, and Shimla’s Winter Carnival events are scheduled to run until midnight at the Ridge.