Tourist Drives Thar SUV Through River to Beat Himachal Traffic || ENGLISH || GOA365

In a quirky attempt to escape the festive season traffic snarls, a Mahindra Thar owner in Himachal Pradesh took an unconventional route by driving across the Chandra River. However, this move didn't sit well with locals, and the video soon went viral on social media.

Amid the Christmas and New Year rush, the Himachal Pradesh Police cracked down on the SUV owner, issuing a challan under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The SUV managed to cross the river, thanks to the shallow water level, but the authorities swiftly took action after the video gained attention.

Meanwhile, heavy traffic and an influx of tourists have left the hills in North India gasping for breath during the Christmas weekend. Popular destinations in Himachal Pradesh, such as Manali, witnessed long queues of vehicles, leading to traffic jams and congestion.

An estimated 65,000 people in over 12,000 vehicles crossed the 9.2-kilometer Atal Tunnel on Christmas Eve, according to police data. The annual occurrence of overcrowding during Christmas and New Year holidays in Himachal is causing concerns about road safety and traffic management