Srinagar city recorded the lowest temperature in eleven years. It is at minus 6.7 degree Celsius in Srinagar. Drass area in Ladakh is almost frozen at minus 21.7 degrees. The famous tourist resort Gulmarg is at one of its lowest minus 9.4 degree Celsius. And the famous Dal Lake is frozen at its periphery. The valley is witnessing an unabated cold wave conditions.

As the temperature has gone sub zero, water in drinking water pipes is also freezing. Most of the households have to warm up their taps to get the water flowing. Usually the local’s burn small wood sticks around the iron taps and pipes. The roads have become slippery and it is tough not only to drive but also to walk. Special rubber shoes have to be worn to walk on the roads and quite often people slip on roads and hurt themselves.  Due to extreme cold all educational institutions are shut for the customary two and a half month winter break. Adding to the woes of the people are the frequent electricity breakdowns. 

It is not that the valley is witnessing extreme cold this year only, every winter is tough here. Over the ages the natives here have devised their own ways to protect themselves from the biting bitter cold. Locals here wear the loose attire called Pheran. It supplements other clothing and helps in shielding the wearer from the terrible cold. Then there is the Kangri.  It is actually a firepot which is woven around and carries burning coals.  Kangri can be taken anywhere. It can be held under the Pheran thus helping the wearer to beat the cold. 

Kangri can be used while sitting, standing, walking and even sleeping. Of course, keeping Kangri alongside during sleeping hours can be dangerous, but most of the locals have perfected the art of managing the firepot during their sleep time. Many households also use brazier to keep rooms warm.

In these freezing times, most of outdoor activities have got halted. Children don’t get to play outside and indoor games take precedence. The days are especially difficult for the women who are forced to do all the working with the freezing cold water. Washing and drying clothes becomes a cumbersome activity. Washed up clothes when left for drying gets frozen and the clothes have to be kept near braziers to dry them up. People use dried vegetables for eating as the landmass gets submerged under freezing snow.

Winters are very tough in Kashmir. And they are all the more difficult for the security forces that are required to maintain their guard at all costs and also do round the clock security drills in this freezing cold.  According the Metrological department, the cold wave is going to persist for almost a week more. And till then this part of the country is will be left shivering with cold.