Winter’s tale

Snowfall in the plains in the very first week of chillai kalan has broken the spell of bone-chilling dry cold weather that had caused severe hardships for people.  Besides freezing water bodies, the cold conditions led to plumbing problems in houses. Sub zero temperature made the pipes freeze, expand and crack. Snowfall has brought some temporary relief. However, the conditions could very much go back to square one in the coming days. Dry weather hardens fallen snow which, in turn, impacts mobility.  Chilai Kalan is like that. Over the next four weeks, more snow is expected, and the cold conditions are likely to remain unchanged.

Compounding the challenges is the erratic power supply, a perennial winter issue in Kashmir. And this winter has been no different. The government comes out with a load shedding schedule, which is then observed in breach. Unscheduled power cuts prolong the officially sanctioned supply breaks. The problem with the winters in the Valley is that the power supply generally goes down, due to the reduced discharge in the rivers.  The soaring demand for electricity far outstrips its availability. Successive governments have so far singularly failed to bridge the gap.  And there is little hope that in future this state of affairs will change.

That said, these challenges do not subdue the spirit of people in the Valley. In fact, it brings out the best in them. For example, despite grappling with the tough winter, people in parts of the Valley rushed to the help of stranded tourists caught in sudden snow storm. They were given shelter in homes and mosques, an inspiring example in our polarizing times. We can only hope that such gestures do not remain limited to parts of Kashmir but are also followed in other parts of the country.

In the face of winter’s relentless challenges, it is imperative for the government to rise to the occasion and address the pressing issues, particularly the unscheduled power cuts that exacerbate hardships for the people. It is commendable that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has stationed himself in Kashmir during this critical time, demonstrating a commitment to bringing some relief to the Valley. With effective governance and sustained effort, the resilience and generosity of the Kashmiri people, as seen in their aid to stranded tourists, can be matched by the support they rightfully deserve from their leaders.