Light snowfall, frozen water add to the chill at Ukhrul
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, January 12 2018: Winter in Ukhrul this year has been severe with light snowfall recorded in the night and frozen water greeting the people in the morning at the district headquarters.

Snow fall began from the first week of January adding to the bite in the breeze that blows across the town.

Not surprisingly many people prefer to spend their time indoors by the fire side.

Sale of charcoal is doing brisk business.

Temperature drops to almost 0 degree Celsius during the night and snowfall occurs for a few hours before dawn.

Snow and frozen water dot the roads and other places in Ukhrul.

If the biting cold has made the people stay indoors, it has however not deterred young children from coming out early in the morning to play with the frozen water, collect ice or slide across the frozen water before the sun rises and melts the snow.

Later comers, (after 9 am) miss the chance to play with the snow.

Being terribly cold, people would remain indoor from 5 evening onward sitting near the hearth while in the morning people sit under the sun.

Located at the altitude of 15 00 metres above mean sea level, Ukhrul is a cold place with the average temperature recorded at 15.5 degree Celsius.

The average temperature at Ukhrul this winter is 3-12 degree Celsius regularly till date, with light snowfall in the night and water getting frozen.

Chatting with this correspondent, a 65 year old lady, H Chiphang said that she could feel the piercing cold from November last year.

Recalling her earlier days, the 65 year old lady said that they had to carry paddy harvested from the field on bare foot and light clothing.

However they managed to beat the cold.

She further said that the climatic condition at Ukhrul is now very different from the days when she was young.

At least three blankets or more are required to get a sound sleep, she said or else the biting cold keeps her awake in the night.

A truck driver N Ragui who regularly transports goods from the villages to Ukhrul town, said that these days travelling early in the morning is not possible as the snow and frozen water makes it dangerous for him to take the wheel.

The vehicle can skid, he remarked.

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