The Himachal Pradesh Police has rescued more than 300 people who were stranded near the Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, an official revealed Saturday.

“Some tourists had crossed the tunnel on Saturday morning but in the evening, they could not find any resting place in Lahaul due to snowfall and were stranded midway while returning to Manali,” Kullu Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh said.

In the evening, the Lahaul-Spiti Police coordinated with the Kullu Police to send vehicles through the tunnel, which was inaugurated in October.

However, these vehicles were stuck midway while on their way to Manali due to snow and slippery roads, Singh said.

A police quick reaction team, a 48-seater bus, and a 24-seater police were among the near 70 vehicles that were deployed to rescue them.

The DSP and the SHO of Manali were involved in the rescue operation which was later joined by the border roads organisation (BRO), the Kullu SP said.

“The rescue operation started on Saturday evening and continued after midnight,” Singh added.

All stranded tourists were rescued from Dhundhi and South Portal of the tunnel till 12.33 am and were taken to safer places in Manali.

The SP further stated that the personnel team led by the Manali SHO was still checking enroute for any stranded tourist.

As per forecast by the Meteorological Department, snowfall around the tunnel is expected in the coming days.

Issuing a yellow weather warning for heavy snowfall in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, the MeT Department had forecast rain and snowfall in mid and high hills of the state from January 3 to 5 and on January 8.