Fresh snowfall in northern India on Friday ended a long dry spell but also sparked a fresh debate about civic sense after videos showing unruly behavior by tourists in snow-covered mountain towns went viral on social media.
One widely shared clip from Shimla shows a group of men wandering shirtless down an empty street in sub-zero temperatures, shouting and doing push-ups. The visuals, shot during peak snowfall, drew sharp criticism for promoting dangerous and disruptive behavior in a sensitive tourist zone.
Another video, reportedly shot in Manali, shows a Haryana-registered luxury Audi sliding uncontrollably on a snowy road, apparently without proper winter tires or chains. The car narrowly missed a pedestrian, raising concerns about safety and roadworthiness among tourists driving in extreme weather conditions.
The clips received hundreds of reactions online, with many users calling for tougher enforcement against public nuisance and reckless behavior in the hill states.
Watch the viral video here:
“Where there is a sleeping police, the whole world knows what the idiots are doing except the police,” one user commented, while another wrote: “Crude and careless people are ruining fragile tourist destinations.”
A third user said: “Walking shirtless on snowy streets for social media attention should not be tolerated. Civics need to be taught early.”
“Nothing wrong…if it’s in a controlled way…not a matter of drinking too much…just limited to their group,” wrote a fourth user.
Earlier this month, similar outrage followed another viral video from Himachal Pradesh showing tourists drinking alcohol and dancing on a snowy roadside. At least three men appeared shirtless, while others were seen holding bottles of alcohol and hookahs, raising concerns about safety and environmental damage.
Snowfall disrupts traffic in Himachal, Kashmir
Popular hill destinations including Shimla received fresh snowfall on Friday due to an active western disturbance. Snow was also reported in the higher elevations of the Kashmir Valley and parts of the Jammu region.
The Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rain or snowfall accompanied by gusty winds and hailstorm in parts of Pir Panjal range, Chenab valley and south Kashmir.
The new spell disrupted transport services, leading to the suspension of flight operations at the Srinagar International Airport. Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu State Highway was also affected, while train services between Banihal and Baramulla were suspended due to heavy snowfall.
Authorities have repeatedly urged tourists to follow safety recommendations and avoid risky behavior during extreme weather conditions.
