MANALI/SHIMLA: A Delhi tourist’s tragic death from a suspected heart attack near Manali has once again exposed glaring gaps in emergency response system.
The victim, a younger lawyer from Delhi identified as Karan Ratan couldn’t be rushed to the hospital in time due to a traffic jam between Solang Nala and Manali, a stretch notorious for bottlenecks during peak tourist seasons.
Residents and stakeholders have highlighted the lack of first-aid facilities in Solang Nala and the Atal Tunnel.
No o e know where he died on the way to hospital or in his hotel room itself.
But This isn’t the first time a life has been lost because of delays caused by traffic or unavailability of medical aid, in upper Manali areas” said a local hotelier.
The tragedy has once again raised the demand for dedicated first-response centers and better traffic management along this critical route, which sees thousands of tourists daily.
Solang has witnessed accidents in paragliding and skiing in the past as well.
The incidents underscore.the urgent need for authorities to prioritize medical response infrastructure and streamline traffic movement in the Solan and Atal tunnel to prevent such preventable deaths in the future.
This incident is yet another grim reminder of the recurring traffic chaos tarnishing Manali’s tourism image.
The Manali Hotel Association expressed shock and dismay, stating that such incidents are reported especially during peak tourist seasons like summer and winter snow rush and are bringing bad name for Tourism.
According to a members of association, these avoidable tragedies are denting Himachal Pradesh’s reputation as a tourist-friendly destination.
The tourist was a younger lawyer from Delhi and was staying with his friends in hotel in Buruwa village in uphill of Manali suffered severe chest pain.
According to hus friend, he tried physiotherapy exercise and fell on the floor of the hotel.
Unfortunately, he was rushed Manali where he was declared brought dead at the mission hospital in Manali.
Locals and hoteliers demand that the government should provide basic first aid facilities in critical tourist hubs like Solang Nala and near the Atal Tunnel.
“Tourists facing health issues—be it due to the cold or other reasons—are left stranded for hours in traffic, with no immediate medical assistance. By the time they reach Manali, it’s often too late,” said a concerned hotelier.
The members of MHA called for urgent action, demanding the government and district administration set up first-aid centers at tourist spots.
“These traffic jams and emergencies are dragging Himachal’s tourism industry through the mud. The government must step up and ensure timely help for tourists in emergencies,” they emphasized.
Locals agree that without better traffic management and health facilities, Manali’s once-charming allure is rapidly fading, with tourists paying the ultimate price.
SDM Manali said the tourist was declared brought dead in the hospital and he was staying in the hotel at Buruwa when he complained of pain. “His family members have been informed. The post Morton report is awaited”.
