STATE TIMES NEWS
BHADARWAH: After continuous spells of torrential rains since last one week, upper reaches of Chenab Valley again experienced fresh snowfall bringing severe cold wave back to this hilly region.
Fresh snowfall was reported from Kailash Kund, Aasha Pati, Chatargala, Padri Gali, Bhal Padri, Mehar, Kenthi Dhar, Besakho, Lalu Pani, Qatar Dhar, Baach Gali, Kaansar, Goha , Braid-Bal, Sharonth Dhar and Nehyed chilly since early morning, official said today.
This triggered extreme cold wave conditions in entire Chenab Valley especially in Bhadarwah and Bhalessa area. Spine chilling winds forced dwellers to wear warm cloths and lit traditional bonefires (Bhukharies) to keep themselves warm from unseasonal cold and chilly waves.
Farmers and nomads seem to be the worst sufferers from this chilly weather.
After soaring mercury in the plains, nomads have started reaching meadows in the higher reaches of Chenab Valley with their cattle but due to unseasonal snowfall they are finding it hard to cope up with this chilly weather conditions.
It is important to mention here that nomads start their seasonal migration traditionally from plains of Punjab, Kathua, Samba and Jammu in the beginning of March and reach in high altitude meadows of Chenab Valley with their cattle by 13th April (Baisakhi) for summer grazing. But unseasonal snowfall and hostile weather since last fortnight has hampered their journey towards grazing meadows.
However, MET Deptt has predicted improvement in weather from today afternoon.
