Temperature in Jumla plunges to -3 degrees

JUMLA, Dec 25: As the cold weather continues to worsen, daily life in Jumla is becoming difficult. Since the last week of November, the temperature has started to drop to minus, making it difficult for the residents of Jumla. According to the Jumla Hydrology and Meteorology Office, the temperature in Jumla has dropped to -3 degrees. For the past few days, people have been seen lighting fires in every corner of Jumla.

“It has been very cold for two to four days,” said Devi Prasad Simkhada of Chandannath Municipality-4, Jumla, “With the onset of winter, water has started freezing everywhere.” The temperature in Jumla has dropped to -3 degrees. The water stored inside the house has frozen and turned into ice, and tap water has also started freezing. As the cold weather continues to escalate, health workers have advised people to take care of the health of children and the elderly. They have also suggested that children wear warm clothes and breastfeed frequently as they are prone to pneumonia during the cold season. Similarly, health workers have also advised the elderly to be cautious as they are prone to respiratory problems.

Local women of Jumla are busy collecting firewood for the winter. As the cold increases after the onset of November, it is difficult for women to transport firewood to survive the winter. The time of snowfall in Jumla is also approaching. It snows here from Poush (mid-December to mid-January) to the end of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April). Since the roads are closed as soon as the snow falls, the women here walk for three to four hours daily to bring firewood from the forest to prepare for the winter. Women in Jumla, who are usually busy harvesting the rainy season crops during monsoon, are occupied with collecting firewood as soon as Poush (mid-December to mid-January) begins.

Women say that they are forced to leave their children at home and go to the forest to survive the winter. Meanwhile, Asadi Rawat of Jumla Sinja-6 says, "The only way to avoid the cold is to burn firewood. For this, we have been gathering firewood in the morning and evening." As the number of people burning firewood in the cold has increased, locals have also started selling firewood. According to her, every year in winter, firewood is opened for collection only at a specific time. Since firewood can be collected only during this period, it has to be brought regardless of the cold.

For years, the village main team and the forest users' committee have been coordinating with the locals to clear dry firewood from the forest. Jumla women, 10 to 15 in groups, go to the forest to collect firewood. They are often found with gloves in their hands, masks on their faces, and dirty shoes on their feet, carrying firewood on their backs. Due to the cold, even cattle cannot be taken to the forest for grazing, so they are kept indoors for about two and a half months. This is the day-to-day reality of the entire Jumla.

Women are also bringing hay and straw from the forest to lay the cattle. When the grazing area is completely buried under snow, it is impossible to take the cattle out. Recently, there has been an equal rush to find firewood in Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jumla, and sell it in the market. Local Salsari Sarki said that now a heavy load of firewood is sold for 600 to 850. Since other months are busy with farming and the winter season is leisurely, it is customary to find dry firewood in the forest.