Sajid Raina
Bandipora, Nov 14: With the first bout of snow in higher reaches in Kashmir, people are readying to stock essentials ahead of the three month long winter.
Though considered as the best time for visiting Kashmir with snowfall turning the Valley into white wonderland, it brings intense cold plummeting the mercury to minus 10 degrees or more leading to freezing of water supply lines, lakes and springs. Also, snow cuts off the Valley with the rest of the world for days together.
In Bandipora’s Gabpathri village Noor Mohammad Khan and his wife at their home made of wood are worried they have not made preparations for the winters as the higher reaches receive season’s first snow while rains lashed plains this week.
The village surrounded by thick forests is home to 35 Pahari families and the area witnesses snow and freezing cold, prompting the residents to stock essentials to fight cold. “Winter is nothing short of a disaster for us. We are yet to buy warm clothes for our children,” Khan’s wife Mariyam Jani said. “We remain stuck in our homes for days together because of harsh weather.”
She laments that they have to reel under power outages for days together as snow damages electric cables. This is why Khan and his neighbours are collecting firewood and storing essential commodities to prepare for winter months.
The roads become slippery and buried under snow, with residents stuck in their homes for days together during winter months. Sometimes when it is compulsory to reach markets or hospitals, they trudge in snow. Most of the families eat dried vegetables during winter. Like Khan, Abdul Majeed’s family is busy drying vegetables such as tomatoes, brinjals.
But all they hope ahead of winter is that the administration should provide them power and water supply.
