<p>Shimla: Thousands of tourists thronged Himachal Pradesh during the long Christmas weekend with the Atal Tunnel in Rohtang joining Kullu and Lahaul & Spiti as the most sought-after destination.</p>.<p>An estimated 65,000 people in more than 12,000 vehicles crossed the Tunnel on Sunday, according to police data.</p>.<p>The 9.2-kilometre Atal Tunnel is the world's highest single-tube tunnel above 10,000 feet. Rohtang received heavy snowfall on Saturday, prompting tourists to make a beeline for it.</p>.Midnight masses, celebrations on beaches mark Christmas festivities in Goa; CM greets people.<p>Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, "We welcome the tourists who have come in such huge numbers, crossing over lakhs." </p><p>Himachal Pradesh has stood up again to welcome tourists after the natural disaster during the monsoon season.</p>.<p>Large parts of Himachal Pradesh suffered heavy damage during two spells of rain this monsoon season. The heavy rain wreaked havoc in Mandi and Kullu districts, causing large-scale destruction. Shimla and Solan districts were hit during the second spell in August, with the capital city Shimla suffering heavy damage.</p>.<p>Sukhu also praised the efforts of the district administration and the police for efficiently managing the huge tourist influx and extending a helping hand to those stuck in the snow, particularly at the north and the south portals of the tunnel, where the temperature dropped to minus 12 degrees Celsius.</p>.<p>Director General of Police Sanjay Kundu said 'lakhs of tourists' have arrived in the state and appealed to them to prioritise safe travel practices and adhere to traffic rules. </p>
<p>Shimla: Thousands of tourists thronged Himachal Pradesh during the long Christmas weekend with the Atal Tunnel in Rohtang joining Kullu and Lahaul & Spiti as the most sought-after destination.</p>.<p>An estimated 65,000 people in more than 12,000 vehicles crossed the Tunnel on Sunday, according to police data.</p>.<p>The 9.2-kilometre Atal Tunnel is the world's highest single-tube tunnel above 10,000 feet. Rohtang received heavy snowfall on Saturday, prompting tourists to make a beeline for it.</p>.Midnight masses, celebrations on beaches mark Christmas festivities in Goa; CM greets people.<p>Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, "We welcome the tourists who have come in such huge numbers, crossing over lakhs." </p><p>Himachal Pradesh has stood up again to welcome tourists after the natural disaster during the monsoon season.</p>.<p>Large parts of Himachal Pradesh suffered heavy damage during two spells of rain this monsoon season. The heavy rain wreaked havoc in Mandi and Kullu districts, causing large-scale destruction. Shimla and Solan districts were hit during the second spell in August, with the capital city Shimla suffering heavy damage.</p>.<p>Sukhu also praised the efforts of the district administration and the police for efficiently managing the huge tourist influx and extending a helping hand to those stuck in the snow, particularly at the north and the south portals of the tunnel, where the temperature dropped to minus 12 degrees Celsius.</p>.<p>Director General of Police Sanjay Kundu said 'lakhs of tourists' have arrived in the state and appealed to them to prioritise safe travel practices and adhere to traffic rules. </p>