Photos: Weekend tourist influx spells chaos for hill stations

Agencies | By HT Correspondent

Published on Jul 12, 2021 05:51 pm IST

Thousands of tourist vehicles have been turned away from hill stations close to Delhi over the last few days for not meeting travel document requirements linked to Covid-19, with traffic snarls being reported in popular destinations because of a heavy rush of visitors amid a heatwave in the northern plains and a significant decline in infections, officials said on July 11.

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A view of of Shimla following heavy rain on July 12. The Union health ministry said last week that a spurt in travel after lifting of Covid-19 restrictions has led to “frightening” scenes of overcrowding in hill stations that could lead to increased outbreaks of the infectious disease, HT reported.(PTI)

Published on Jul 12, 2021 05:51 pm IST

A view of of Shimla following heavy rain on July 12. The Union health ministry said last week that a spurt in travel after lifting of Covid-19 restrictions has led to “frightening” scenes of overcrowding in hill stations that could lead to increased outbreaks of the infectious disease, HT reported.(PTI)

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Visitors at Ridge, in Shimla on July 11. The government has termed this spurt in tourism after months of stop start lockdown restrictions as “revenge travel”.(Deepak Sansta / HT Photo)

Published on Jul 12, 2021 05:51 pm IST

Visitors at Ridge, in Shimla on July 11. The government has termed this spurt in tourism after months of stop start lockdown restrictions as “revenge travel”.(Deepak Sansta / HT Photo)

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Traffic jam at Parwanoo Barrier in Panchkula as tourists rush towards Himachal Pradesh over the weekend on July 4. Heavy jams were reported on highways in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh over the last few days as well. Records of the Uttarakhand Police show that close that close to 4,000 vehicles were denied entry to hill stations, an official said, asking not to be named, HT reported.(Sant Arora / HT Photo)

Published on Jul 12, 2021 05:51 pm IST

Traffic jam at Parwanoo Barrier in Panchkula as tourists rush towards Himachal Pradesh over the weekend on July 4. Heavy jams were reported on highways in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh over the last few days as well. Records of the Uttarakhand Police show that close that close to 4,000 vehicles were denied entry to hill stations, an official said, asking not to be named, HT reported.(Sant Arora / HT Photo)

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Police personnel directing visitors to wear face masks while strolling in public places, in Shimla on July 11. Visuals from tourist destinations point out violations of Covid-appropriate behaviour, with people not wearing masks or ensuring social distancing.(Deepak Sansta / HT Photo)

Published on Jul 12, 2021 05:51 pm IST

Police personnel directing visitors to wear face masks while strolling in public places, in Shimla on July 11. Visuals from tourist destinations point out violations of Covid-appropriate behaviour, with people not wearing masks or ensuring social distancing.(Deepak Sansta / HT Photo)

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Inner city traffic congestion at Sanjauli in Shimla on July 5. People who did not have negative Covid-19 test reports and advance booking confirmation for hotels have been turned away as per “well-publicised” protocol for visitors, an official told HT.(Deepak Sansta / HT Photo)

Published on Jul 12, 2021 05:51 pm IST

Inner city traffic congestion at Sanjauli in Shimla on July 5. People who did not have negative Covid-19 test reports and advance booking confirmation for hotels have been turned away as per “well-publicised” protocol for visitors, an official told HT.(Deepak Sansta / HT Photo)

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Tourists who made a pit-stop at a waterfall at Khoksar in Lahual Spiti district on July 9. In Himachal Pradesh, the growing rush of tourists, particularly during the weekends, has pushed the state government to deploy additional police personnel in hill stations.(PTI)

Published on Jul 12, 2021 05:51 pm IST

Tourists who made a pit-stop at a waterfall at Khoksar in Lahual Spiti district on July 9. In Himachal Pradesh, the growing rush of tourists, particularly during the weekends, has pushed the state government to deploy additional police personnel in hill stations.(PTI)

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Tourists walking in the main square in Dharamshala on July 10. During a review meeting, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur asked all deputy commissioners & superintendents of police, as well as chief medical officers to ensure that tourists strictly follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. Directions have also been issued to hoteliers, travel agents and owners of the homestays to motivate tourists to follow Covid-19 guidelines, HT reported.(Ashwini Bhatia / AP)

Published on Jul 12, 2021 05:51 pm IST

Tourists walking in the main square in Dharamshala on July 10. During a review meeting, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur asked all deputy commissioners & superintendents of police, as well as chief medical officers to ensure that tourists strictly follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. Directions have also been issued to hoteliers, travel agents and owners of the homestays to motivate tourists to follow Covid-19 guidelines, HT reported.(Ashwini Bhatia / AP)

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Visitors at Ridge, in Shimla during this past weekend on July 11. Images on social media also showed tourist frenzy at Atal Tunnel in Manali, at Kempty Falls in Mussoorie and several other tourist locations in the hills. This has led to concerns among health experts and officials over a possible rise in cases of Covid-19 again.(Deepak Sansta / HT Photo)

Published on Jul 12, 2021 05:51 pm IST

Visitors at Ridge, in Shimla during this past weekend on July 11. Images on social media also showed tourist frenzy at Atal Tunnel in Manali, at Kempty Falls in Mussoorie and several other tourist locations in the hills. This has led to concerns among health experts and officials over a possible rise in cases of Covid-19 again.(Deepak Sansta / HT Photo)

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