In a recent incident that caught the attention of Himachal Pradesh Police, the owner of an SUV suspected of daringly crossing the Chandra River in Lahaul and Spiti district has been issued a challan. The viral video of the SUV maneuvering through the river, seemingly to avoid heavy traffic, stirred quite a buzz on social media.

Expressing concern over such actions, SP Mayank Chaudhry stated, “Recently, a video went viral in which a Thar is crossing the river Chandra in District Lahaul Spiti. The said vehicle has been penalized under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and to ensure that no one commits such an offence in the future, the district police have deployed personnel at the said place,” as quoted by news agency ANI.

This incident unfolds against the backdrop of Himachal Pradesh grappling with heavy traffic and a surge in tourist numbers during the Christmas weekend. Following snowfall at the Atal Tunnel on Saturday, the area witnessed a significant influx, with a record-breaking 28,210 vehicles crossing the tunnel on Sunday, according to Lahaul and Spiti police.