A harsh winter ahead
There is no good news in store for people who are bracing the winter especially in north Indian states including the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a harsher winter and the possibility of cold waves occurring during this season.
The IMD, in its winter forecast for December to February is expecting below normal minimum temperatures over north and central India besides having a harsher winter and the probability of occurrence of cold waves.
This prediction means that the night temperatures in north India are likely to be below normal, while the day temperatures are expected to be above normal.
The fluctuations in temperatures during winters means that people will have to brace up for dark winter chilly cold nights which also means trouble for those who do not have a roof on their head.
Notably, scores of people die every year due to cold waves that sweep across the north Indian plains. This year the trouble could be serious as winter could be more severe this season due to the prevailing La Nina, a phenomenon associated with the cooling of Pacific waters and an antithesis to El Nino.
Currently, Sea Surface Temperatures are below normal over central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean and moderate La Ni a conditions are prevailing over the equatorial Pacific Ocean. The latest forecast indicates that the moderate La Ni a conditions are likely to continue at least till the end of winter season.
Interestingly, this is probably for the first time that the country’s weather agency has said the winter will be severe. The previous year’s forecast had predicted warmer winters.
Though the phenomenon will have no greater impact in Kashmir valley and those regions which experience cold conditions during winter, but at the same time it can spell doom for regions which are ill prepared for winter or which do not have the required facilities to fight the severe chill.
Kashmir, Kargil and Ladakh regions are well prepared to face the winter as the people here prepare well in advance to beat the cold conditions. This year too the people have ensured all the necessary precautions but a severe winter can have a telling effect on the people here as well.
Winter brings lot of troubles for the people here. Not only does the movement of people get affected but the supplies too face impediments due to loss road and air connectivity. Besides, the unavailability of power facilities here make things even worse.
However, this year the challenges are more as compared to previous ones as the people in cold regions will be at much greater risk and exposure to the deadly pandemic called covid-19.
The covid-19 can get worse during winters and thus is where the worry lies. In such scenarios the efforts the governments need to put in cold regions is much more that were ensured in the past. So the warning issued by the IMD should find more takers from the government side rather than among the general public.
KV Network
