A man has had a very close shave near the Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh, as he jumped out of his SUV to save his life. A video of the incident that is doing rounds on social media reveals multiple vehicles were losing control on the snow-bound roads near the tunnel.
The Atal Tunnel, in service since 2020, is a marvelous piece of engineering that cuts short the time taken to traverse Manali to the Lahaul-Spiti Valley by avoiding high-altitude passes. But during the winter months, the area turns hazardous with heavy snowfall, icing of roads, and steep slopes that make driving a much riskier affair.
In the recent mishap, the man’s SUV slid uncontrollably on the icy road. While the vehicle was hurtling towards a wall, in the split of a second he opened the door and leaped out. Rolling on the ground, he avoided being injured just when the SUV hit the wall and stopped there. His quick thinking saved him from what could have easily been a disastrous accident.
The video has sparked widespread reactions on social media. Many viewers expressed both shock and relief that the man emerged unharmed. The translated caption of the post advised caution, saying: “If you’re going to panic, then it’s better not to go at all. But if you’re going, follow the advisory, and everything will be fine. If it is snowing far away from you, then visit some nearby place to enjoy. Especially at Atal Tunnel, limit your time to just 30 minutes, enjoy it, and then leave.”
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One user commented, “Bro guide these people from Canadian Drivers book!! What to do while driving in snow! That can help people to understand what to do, rather than jumping from a vehicle and putting other people’s lives at risk.” Another witnessed, “He was trying to look back through the door but he slipped…later he also rushed towards the car…” The accident falls on the date of the first snowfall in the season at Manali that had covered the place in a sheet of snow making it a tourist-friendly winter destination but at the same time threw reminders of the dangers that exist under the cover of snow.
