Kullu/Jammu: Thousands of tourists were stranded in Atal Tunnel and surrounding areas of Himachal’s Lahaul Spiti due to heavy snowfall since Sunday evening, following which police and Border Roads Organization (BRO) started rescue operations. In Kishtwar in neighboring Jammu and Kashmir, the Army rescued 235 civilians from a mountain pass after the road was blocked due to heavy snowfall and bad weather.More than 1,000 vehicles got stuck in Atal Tunnel on Sunday evening. More than 2 feet of snow has accumulated in the area around the tunnel. As the highway to Manali was blocked, thousands of people spent the night huddled inside their vehicles. Some remained stranded for about 20 hours.“We guided 700 of the more than 1,000 stranded vehicles from Atal Tunnel to Manali on Sunday night. Manali DSP KD Sharma, who was part of the rescue team, said, “The survivors returned by Monday afternoon. On Monday, Kullu Police closed Manali Atal Tunnel Highway due to snowfall. Police in Lahaul Spiti issued an advisory to avoid unnecessary travel. The minimum temperature in Manali was 2.9 degrees. Yellow alert has been issued for light rain and snowfall in Himachal on March 17 and 18 and Orange alert for heavy rain and snowfall on March 19.In Kishtwar, the rescue was focused on Sinthan Top, a mountain pass and a popular tourist destination. A spokesperson for the Army’s White Knight Corps said, “On March 15, information was received about 235 civilians and 38 stranded vehicles. Teams reached Sinthon Top and provided hot food, water and shelter to the stranded civilians.”