Police rescued at least 300 tourists who were stranded due to heavy snowfall near the South Portal of Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, India, on Tuesday.

Dozens of vehicles and a tourist bus were trapped in the high-altitude tunnel as a snowstorm battered Himachal Pradesh state in the Himalayas on January 30 evening.

Sakshi Verma, Kullu SP, said: 'Around 50 vehicles and one Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus were stuck near the South Portal (SP) of ATR in which 300 tourists were travelling. All tourists have been evacuated from ATR.'

Meanwhile, the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh are likely to witness heavy snowfall and rainfall from January 30 till February 3, according to the local meteorological department.

As a result, Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Chamba, Kullu and higher reaches of Mandi, Sirmour and Shimla districts including Shimla city and adjoining areas are likely to witness one or two spells of heavy snowfall and rain, the weather department said in a statement issued on Sunday.

The lower hills and plains in the state will also witness occasional thunderstorms and lightning while isolated areas of mid and higher hills will witness gusty winds during this period, it said.

The average maximum temperatures are likely to be below normal, while minimum temperatures in low hills will be normal and below normal in mid and high hills during the period, the weather department said.