Wular Lake’s rare freeze delights, disrupts

Bandipora, Dec 25: Parts of Wular Lake in north Kashmir remained frozen, days after the initial freeze, as temperatures continued to dip, plummeting to minus 7 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.

Children were seen testing the strength of the icy surface near Saderkoot Payeen village in Bandipora district on Wednesday.

Geese and ducks were also spotted flocking on the frozen parts of the lake while a few boatmen were seen making unsuccessful attempts to break the thick ice sheets.

Locals said that such freezing of the lake had not been witnessed in over two decades.

The parts of the lake first froze on December 21 and the majority of the portion has remained as such with further fall in temperatures on Wednesday thickening the icy surface.

While the phenomenon has delighted onlookers, it has adversely affected the livelihood of fishermen and others dependent on the lake’s produce, including water chestnuts and lotus stems.

“Today, the icy surface seems thicker,” said Showkat Maqbool, a local associated with the Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA).

He said that large parts of the lake had remained frozen since December 21, hindering the movement of boatmen in the lake.

Despite the freeze, the lake continues to attract lakhs of migratory birds this season, thrilling bird enthusiasts and adding a unique charm to the region.

Meanwhile, the freezing temperatures have made daily life difficult for the habitants.

The water supply line and taps getting frozen daily has been a regular phenomenon in this north Kashmir district with scores of people in upper belts complaining of water crisis arising due to freezing and bursting of water pipes.