A viral video showing heavy traffic in the mountains has reignited worries about overcrowding in fragile hill regions, as people from pollution-hit Delhi head to higher altitudes in search of cleaner air.
The video, shared on X by user Nikhil Saini, shows long queues of vehicles stuck on a narrow stretch of road at Rohtang Pass. What has surprised many is that the congestion has occurred despite there being no snowfall and without any major holiday rush. Reacting to the visuals, Saini questioned the sudden surge in visitors, writing, ‘Escape from toxic AQI or what ? This jam isn’t on some city road, it’s Rohtang Pass. No snowfall yet. No vacations. Still such massive traffic. So what exactly is pulling everyone up there?’
Escape from toxic AQI or what ? 😅
— Nikhil saini (@iNikhilsaini) December 16, 2025
This jam isn’t on some city road, it’s Rohtang Pass. No snowfall yet. No vacations. Still such massive traffic. So what exactly is pulling everyone up there? pic.twitter.com/cc21YIujVP
The clip quickly spread across social media, with users expressing concern over the pressure such traffic puts on ecologically sensitive mountain areas. The video has once again brought attention to the issue of unchecked tourism in the hills.
Delhi’s worsening air quality linked to rush
The timing of the rush has drawn attention as it comes amid worsening air quality in Delhi. On Tuesday, the city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 380, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. For several days, thick smog reduced visibility and made breathing uncomfortable for residents.
Although air quality showed slight improvement on Wednesday, Delhi’s AQI still remained ‘very poor’ at 329. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that AQI readings at 7 am across all monitoring stations in Delhi stayed below the ‘severe’ level, with some areas even falling into the ‘poor’ category. Despite this improvement, the air continued to be unhealthy.
Social media users were quick to react to the traffic situation at Rohtang. While some blamed misleading travel content on social media for encouraging sudden trips to the hills, others pointed to weak crowd management and lack of regulation at popular tourist destinations. One user sarcastically remarked, ‘White and white and white cars! No snow but still everything is white.’
The incident has once again sparked debate on the need for stricter controls to protect India’s vulnerable mountain regions from growing tourist pressure.
