Shimla/Dharamshala, June 13 -- Tourists are flocking to Himachal Pradesh's key hill destinations to escape scorching temperatures in the plains. More than 3 lakh vehicles have arrived in Shimla over the past 10 days alone, with roughly 30,000 vehicles entering the state capital daily. In Manali, another popular summer destination, police officials said that more than 3,000 vehicles, mostly tourist vehicles, enter daily, in addition to Volvo buses.

As the summer season peaks, Shimla-the Queen of Hills-is choked with traffic gridlocks. "On a daily basis, 30,000 vehicles are entering Shimla. In May, more than 7 lakh vehicles entered the city," said assistant superintendent of police (ASP), Shimla, Abhishek (goes by one name), adding: "We ha...