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As relentless heavy rainfall continues to batter Himachal Pradesh, tourists are facing the brunt of the adverse weather conditions, prompting cancellations of hotel reservations and holiday plans. The hill state has been hit hard, with over 50 reported rain-related deaths as of Monday. The popular tourist destinations of Shimla, Manali, and Dharamshala have witnessed a significant drop in hotel occupancy, with rates falling below ten percent due to the inclement weather.

Tourist Destinations Experience Drastic Drop in Occupancy

Gajender Thakur, President of the Manali Hotels Association, highlighted the dire situation by stating that hotel occupancy in Manali has plummeted to a mere two percent. Foreign tourists, mostly returning from Leh, comprise the bulk of the few visitors. Domestic tourists, on the other hand, are opting to steer clear of the hill stations due to the adverse weather conditions.

Stranded Tourists Express Discontent

The impact of the harsh weather has been felt by tourists from other countries as well. A tourist group from Sri Lanka found themselves stranded in Mandi and expressed frustration over inadequate communication from tour organizers regarding the deteriorating weather and damaged roads. Tourists lamented that their plans were severely disrupted due to the unexpected conditions, with some even having to cancel their trips to attractions like Rohtang Pass.

Local Administration's Advisory for Tourists' Safety

Furthermore, as the local administration grapples with the challenges posed by the ongoing rainfall, they have issued advisories cautioning tourists against non-essential travel during the night. The concern stems from the potential danger of falling boulders and landslides, which might not be easily discernible in the dark.This situation echoes a similar incident in July when the Himachal Pradesh government undertook a massive rescue operation to evacuate around 70,000 stranded tourists from various districts, including Kullu Manali, Lahaul and Spiti, and Kinnaur.-*