Thousands of tourists heading towards Manali have been stuck in a major traffic snarl due to a landslide on the Manali-Chandigarh highway.

Thousands of vehicles remain stalled extending from both sides of the landslide.

It happened early Thursday morning. There were no casualties but the rubble caused traffic to back up for several miles.

[Sharif Mohamad, Station House Officer, Mandi]: (male, Hindi)
"The road was opened for a while in between, but after two hours the road was blocked."

Tourists and commuters stuck in the snarl complained at having to stay in the same place for hours without any relief.

[Roni Gilbon, Tourist from Israel]: (English)
"We went for Manali at five o' clock (a.m.), and since, like, 7:30 hours (local time) we are standing here, you know strong rain, we don't have food and even we don't have water, strong rains, darkness, no one can help us, road is blocked, we can't go backwards even, we can't go back to Manali, and we can't go forward to Dharamsala, and it is so frustrating. The girls with me are so frustrated, terrified and it is really exhausting."

The repair work on the road is in progress but passengers have not been informed how long the process will take.