The person who posted the video wondered if people from dirty cities are traveling to the highlands to escape the poisonous air.
As pollution levels continue to rise to unsafe levels, breathing has become extremely difficult for residents of Delhi-NCR. Roads and buildings are obscured by dense haze outside, and using air filters indoors only marginally improves the situation
A social media video has drawn notice in the middle of this. The user who shared the image, which depicts a lengthy line of cars near Rohtang Pass, wondered if people from dirty cities were traveling to the mountains to escape the poisonous air.
Rohtang Pass Traffic Jam
The video, which was posted on X (previously Twitter), depicts cars stalled in traffic for more than ten kilometers. Even though the snowfall has not started and year-end vacations are still a week away, hundreds of automobiles are still stuck in slow-moving gridlock. “Escape from hazardous AQI or what?” is the caption that was posted with the video. This gridlock is on Rohtang Pass, not some city road. There has not been any snow yet. No holidays. There is still a ton of traffic. What precisely is drawing everyone up there, then?
The Internet Reacts to “Rohtang Is New Karol Bagh”
Over a million people have viewed the post since it was published online, sparking discussions about overpopulation and the effects of tourism on the environment. “The mountains appear less like a mountain pass, more like a road in Gurugram or Greater Noida West — full of dirt only,” a user wrote. “Rohtang is the new Karol Bagh,” someone else said, comparing the pass to a busy city market.
Perhaps we ought to halt these individuals right there and force them to clean up the mountains and plant trees. Another person said, “That would lessen this so called “wanderlustism” and genuinely assist the mountains.” Others commented on the absurdity of the situation, saying things like “When fresh air becomes the new tourist attraction” and “They are heading to improve the AQI of Rohtang.”
“As awful as ever. No one is receiving calls from mountains. One person said, “They are shouting for help and want to avoid all cars,” while another said, “I hope the AQI at Rohtang Pass stays below safe limits.”
Delhi, meanwhile, still suffers from severe smog. On Wednesday, December 17, significant haze was observed in places like Anand Vihar and ITO, which decreased visibility and raised health concerns for locals. As a result, Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been implemented by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). In an effort to reduce the crucial pollution levels, this involves stringent restrictions on industrial operations, building, and the movement of specific vehicles.
