Srinagar, Dec 27 (KNS): Though first six days of 40-days ‘chilai-kalan’ have been dry with even sun coming out during the day time, the temperatures are plummeting with each passing day.
On Friday morning parts of famous Dal Lake in Srinagar and other water bodies in the valley had frozen due to severe cold. There have been reports that water taps in several areas had frozen across Kashmir on Friday morning giving people tough times.
In most of the offices, reports said, employees report to their duties by 11 am as leaving home early has become a difficult job due to bone chilling cold. Most of the markets in Srinagar also open late in the morning due to severe cold.
“I open my shop after 10:30 am as it is difficult to come early due to severe cold. Even the customers start coming after 11 am as the mornings are too cold. Also after 5:30 pm, hardly any customers visit,” said Mohammad Amir, a shopkeeper, who deals in woollens.
Amir said there has been good demand for the woollens in the last few weeks. Apart from woollens, heating gadgets are also in huge demand. However, customers complained that the prices of the woollens, heating gadgets and other essential items have sky-rocketed and there was no check from the authorities.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“There has been atleast 30 percent rise in the prices in the last few weeks. The shopkeepers are taking advantage of the prevailing cold wave and have hiked the prices unilaterally,” said Ghulam Hassan, a retired employee.
He said that the authorities were in slumber as the traders were ‘looting’ the customers with both hands.
As extreme cold blankets Kashmir, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) president Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan said frigid temperatures put people at greater risk of high blood pressure.
“The drop in temperature during winter actually raises mercury in blood pressure gauges,” he said.“ High blood pressure is harder to control in cold weather. Even healthy people aren’t off the hook. They also tend to have higher blood pressure in winter. Various studies have shown that winter chill brings elevated blood pressure in adults, elderly and children.” (KNS)