Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand face severe traffic congestion

A long weekend holiday has triggered massive traffic congestion across the northern Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The surge in tourists and pilgrims has led to severe delays on major highways and within popular hill stations.

In Himachal Pradesh, Shimla experienced significant gridlock, with long queues reported on roads connecting Chhota Shimla, Sanjauli, Lakkar Bazaar, and Bhattakufar. The Circular Road and the Shimla bypass were particularly affected. Congestion was attributed to a high volume of vehicles from neighboring states, the presence of large tourist buses, and haphazard, illegal parking that narrowed available carriageways. Similar traffic issues were noted in Manali, Kasauli, and Dharamshala.

In Uttarakhand, the influx of pilgrims traveling to Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib caused substantial delays. A notable seven-kilometer traffic jam was reported between Joshimath and Marwari, with motorists facing delays of up to three hours. The Chandigarh-Shimla National Highway-5 also saw heavy congestion as travelers attempted to utilize the extended holiday period.