New Delhi, Jan. 25 -- Himachal Pradesh turned into a winter wonderland after receiving the season's first snowfall, but the weather also triggered massive traffic chaos in Manali, leaving thousands of tourists and residents stranded in freezing conditions for hours. According to multiple social media posts, the disruption began on Friday evening as a large number of visitors arrived ahead of the long weekend.

Videos circulating online showed long queues of vehicles stretching for kilometres, with cars buried under thick layers of snow on the narrow hill roads. Many travellers said they were stuck inside their vehicles through the night after traffic came to a complete standstill.

Warning travellers, an X handle, @GoHimachal, shared a vi...