Chilla-i-kalan is over, but the chill has not gone yet. We think that we are through the worst but we don't know the worse may have to follow. Winter in Kashmir has a dubious distinction of raring its head at the time we feel it has left us. It returns to spill over to the next season. We pray it doesn't happen this year, but we can't say it won't. Winter woes for Kashmiris are nothing unusual. Come winter and the ordeal begins. The weather forecast keeps a common Kashmiri always on toes. In view of the recent weatherman's forecast of a snowfall there are certain measures which must be taken to ensure a hassle free life. Road safety followed by the clearance of snow comes first. Then power cuts deepen the difficulty and the mess gets intractable. No one in the West can imagine a life we have in Kashmir because of winter. Though it gets even colder there, but facilities and amenities troubleshoot their crisis. For us the cold is the biggest worry as it virtually cripples us. In the absence of amenities, our life is reduced to misery. But now accuracy in weather forecast has made us a bit cautious. Though forecasts can't always strike with a precision, but then we have an advantage of time. Earlier we keep things ready to fight any eventuality, better it is. Though this year the winter season was not as problematic as it was last year, but who knows what is in the offing. Last year a few inch snowfall threw every thing out of gear and then it took a lot of effort for government to bring things back on rails. In case of a heavy snowfall the machinery is to be kept ready. All departments will have to prepare themselves accordingly. The whole system of disaster management need be overhauled. Otherwise we start doing only when something happens. That makes things even worse. Better is to start early, so that we are saved early. That is what we expect before we bid a good bye to chill.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 4 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST