For the first time in 16 years the temperature in the summer capital city of Srinagar dipped to minus 7.8 degrees Celsius on Friday night, sending people into a tizzy.
Behind the breathtaking view of the snow lie the miseries and hardships of the people in the forgotten Valley.
For the first time in 16 years the temperature in the summer capital city of Srinagar dipped to minus 7.8 degrees Celsius on Friday night, sending people into a tizzy.
“The minimum temperature recorded was minus 7.8 degrees Celsius which has been the lowest since 1995. On January 2, 1995 temperature in the city was recorded at minus 8.2 degrees.
The lowest temperature recorded in the city was on January 31, 1893 at minus 14.4 degrees Celsius,” said Sonam Lotus, director of the meteorological department, Kashmir. The minimum temperature in Gulmarg dipped to minus 15.2 degrees Celsius, while Kokarnag experienced minus 13 degree Celsius. “We are expecting fresh snowfall on Sunday or Monday,” Lotus added.
Taps and water-bodies have frozen affecting the potable water supply system in the Valley. Power crisis in some areas have created an alarming situation with some localities in the old city without electricity for more than a week now. What has complicated the problem is the shortage of essentials like LPG cylinders.
Against this background, chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeting about cricket kicked off a storm with an angry netizens reminding him of his responsibility to provide basic facilities to the common man facing hardships in the winter.
“At this rate it seems the decision to go go-karting rather than practice is going to come in for some serious # cricket,” Omar tweeted, evoking an instant reaction from ‘mykashmirmylife -Son Of The Soil’ who immediately retorted: “You better comment on short supply of essentials, rather than commenting on cricket which’s none of your business! Excuse me.”
The civil society has joined the chorus against Omar for what they say his failure to provide basic amenities to the people in Kashmir. “It is an incompetent government. We have seen harsher winter before but not seen such an inept government which has failed its people despite getting snow forecasts,” said Zareef Ahmad Zareef, chairman of the Valley Citizens Council.
For government everything seems to be alright in the valley. “The government is committed to provide adequate necessary required essentials particularly to the consumers of the Valley,” said Qamar Ali Akhoon, J&K minister for consumer affairs and public distribution.
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