Top 7 ways tourists try to kill themselves in Kullu-Manali

driving on snow can cause accidents in Manali

And how you can avoid it by going through these top safety tips for tourists visiting Kullu-Manali…

1. Driving in snow

driving in snow can be real risky as vehicles skid — Tourists stuck near the Atal Tunnel after their vehicles started skidding.

This one is a smooth killer. You reach Manali to experience your first snowfall in and around Manali but end up being stranded and eventually rescued by local cops. Hundreds of tourists get trapped in the snow every year in the nearby Atal Tunnel, Sissu, Koksar etc because it’s their first-time driving in the snow. The roads become extremely slippery and driving highly dangerous as uncontrollable vehicles keep on skidding when it’s snowing.

But the majority of the tourists, even the first-timers, overestimate their driving skills. You must gave seen those ‘dancing cars,’ floating on the snow-covered roads. It’s not funny if you happen to be inside one of them. Many unfortunate tourists have even lost their lives like this Delhi tourist, who was driving in snow on December 8, 2024, and died after his vehicle skidded and collided with a truck near the Atal Tunnel. Then again on December 27, 2024, thousands of tourists got stuck in an overnight traffic jam in Solang valley near Manali after vehicles started skidding on snow-cover road and driving became highly risky. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

So, what to do? Just don’t travel to areas where heavy snowfall is expected or occurring. If you are already caught in snow, then don’t drive if the road is slippery. Ask for assistance from the local police.

2. Going near rivers and rivulets

A signboard near Manali warning against going nearer to rivers. — A signboard near Manali warning against going near the Beas river.

This one is the top killer. Every year, dozens of incidents are reported in which tourists endanger their lives by going a little too near the rivers and rivulets in and around Manali. Many even die. In 2024, at least six tourists were swept away by the waters of Beas and Parvati rivers. All of them were either clicking selfies or getting photographed by others. Their feet slipped and the rivers washed them away.

What to do? Just don’t go near the waters of any river or rivulet. Keep your safe distance.

3. Solo hiking

A missing person poster about a youth who went missing in the Parvati valley — A missing person poster about a youth, who went missing in the Parvati valley.

Many tourists underestimate the mountains. They go for these hikes in the forests and some never come back. Let me share a little piece of police data with you. Since 2011, 113 tourists have gone missing in the forests of Parvati valley alone. Out of these, 93 were found later but most of them were found dead. The remaining 20 are still ‘missing’ in police files but in reality they too are feared dead.

What to do? Never wander in forests you are not familiar with. Always hire a guide, even if you are hiking in a group and are new to the mountains.

4. Dangerous selfies

Taking selfies can take your life too. If you don’t know where you are standing. There have been many incidents of tourists falling off dangerous cliffs while trying to click selfies in Kullu-Manali and nearby areas. In 2022, a Jaipur girl had died in Koksar in Lahaul Spiti after her feet slipped off while clicking a selfie near a waterfall. What to do? Never jeopardize your life for a selfie. It’s simple.

5. Paragliding

manali paragliding — Paragliding in the Kullu-Manali mountains.

Tandem paragliding in Manali in particular and in Himachal Pradesh in general is a highly unsafe adventure activity if we look at the data. Over two dozen tourists have died in paragliding crashes in Manali and Bir Billing in around the last one decade. The reasons range from inexperienced pilots, poor gear to flying in bad weather conditions.

What to do? Do your homework before you decide to fly with a particular operator. Inquire about the pilot license, operator license, flying experience etc. Only after getting satisfied, choose your operator. Read the detailed paragliding safety guide here.

6. Reckless driving

Reckless driving in the hills. A car turned turtle near Manali,

There is a whole lot of difference between driving in the hills and driving in the plains. It’s like the North and South poles. But many refuse to grasp this fact. And the result more often than not is tragedy on the mountain roads. Reckless driving in the mountains is the cause of many woes.

You should be careful while driving in the mountains especially on the curves and while overtaking. In the rainy season, driving becomes riskier due to the danger of landslides. What to do? Simple. Drive carefully.

7. Altitude sickness

Many tourists, even if they have a heart condition, take the risk of visiting places situated at higher altitudes. There have been a number of incidents in which tourists suffered strokes at altitudes higher than 3000 to 3500 meters. If you have a medical condition or even fear that travelling to higher altitude could be dangerous for you, then get yourself medically examined. If your doctor allows, only then travel to high altitude areas, say, for example, the Rohtang Pass.