No doubt, the winter season has its own beauty. It comes with snow that turns our valley into a white wonderland, bringing a complete change in lifestyle, eating habits, etc. The precipitation that occurs throughout winter is quite important for the agriculture and horticulture sectors, and also for the tourism sector, which is actually the backbone of our economy. After putting in a lot of effort throughout the year and earning to sustain themselves during the winter season, winter becomes an ideal time for people here because all sectors that offer livelihood opportunities come to a halt. During winters, people usually try to visit their relatives because they get very little time during the rest of the year, and they have plenty of time for such activities in winter.
But winter never comes without issues; it is always a challenging period. Not only does it bring a pause to almost every activity that helps people earn their livelihood, but it also comes with life-threatening challenges. One of the most dangerous challenges we have been facing is the increasing number of heart attack deaths during winter over the past few years. Many young people have lost their lives to heart attacks. No doubt, doctors advise people to stay away from cold waves, but still, people have compulsions that push them into such situations.
Coughing, sneezing, cold, and fever are quite common during this season, and many elderly people lose their lives during this period as well. Many people also lose their lives due to suffocation caused by using heating devices inside their rooms. I have seen many people losing their lives over the years, and it has become quite common every winter here. No doubt, people are not taking proper precautions, but it is often due to compulsion and economic constraints that force them to opt for such measures, which eventually take their lives.
Slippery roads due to freezing also lead to accidents that claim lives, which again is something almost inevitable. These frozen roads also pose a danger to pedestrians, and many people break their bones while walking on such slippery surfaces, which is another factor that demeans winter. One more thing that makes winter an ordeal for people is the lack of earning opportunities; they are forced to spend the savings they accumulate during the rest of the year, which again makes winter a challenging season for the people living here.
All this suffering could be minimized only if proper facilities were provided, which would require a concerted effort from both the people and the government here. Only then would these issues be addressed and the ease of living improved. We love winters, but we fear them as well. When we enter the spring of another year, it always feels like a blessing to have come out alive from the harshest period of the year, as if we have survived a life-threatening phase.
I have included the photographs here to show how our winter looks like. It’s quite beautiful in view, but the hardships we face are numerous and are there present at every moment.