Shirui village comes under thick blanket of snow
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 07 2021: Two inches deep snow draped Shirui village and its adjoining areas in Ukhrul district in the afternoon today.

The was the first snowfall after the last that occurred four years ago.

The snowfall lasted about 2 hours covering the entire village under a thick blanket of white snow.

"The snowfall started at around 1 pm till 3 pm after rain brought hails to the village.

This is the first snowfall this year.

The last snowfall occurred four years back," said Achan, head of the Shirui village.

People from all over Ukhrul came to the village to witness the snowfall.

Children and youth played with the snow, he said.

People of the village captured the snowfall on their smartphones.

A video of the snowfall showing people playing in the snow went viral on the social media, particularly on Whatsapp.

Shirui village comes under thick blanket of snow

Hailstones also lashed Oktan village in Noney district today.

Meanwhile, sources in the district administration said Mount Iso also received hails in the afternoon today.

Brief rains also battered Imphal and other parts of the State.

At Ukhrul district headquarters, light snowfall was recorded back in 2018 .

Water also froze at the district headquarters back in 2018, with the winter being severe that year.

The light snowfall was reported on January 12, 2018 .

Three years back, snowfall began from the first week of January.

This was what TSE reported back on January 12, 2018 : 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.

Late risers, (after 9 am) miss the chance to play with the snow.

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

Located at the altitude of 1500 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 feet 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.