Snow envelopes Chilfi Valley
| Date :31-Dec-2019 |
Staff Reporter :
RAIPUR,
Among all districts, the minimum temperature of 6.8 degrees was recorded at Durg, which is seven notches below normal
THE chilling cold has engulfed entire Chhattisgarh and Chilfi Valley was transformed into a valley of snow under extreme cold conditions on Monday. Among all districts, the minimum temperature of 6.8 degrees was recorded at Durg, which is seven notches below normal. With good forest cover and high altitude, Chilfi Valley which is called the Kashmir of Chhattisgarh recorded extreme cold conditions and the area witnessed sheet of snow. Similar conditions were also witnessed at Bodla and Pandaria.
The bone-chilling cold has intensified in Chilfi Valley and its surrounding areas, and dew droplets on leaves of trees and plants in the form of snow were commonly visible. The mesmerizing beauty has turned out to be a major attraction for tourists. It is worth mentioning that most of the forested areas including Chilfi valley are located in the lap of Maikal chains of Satpura Mountain. The valley is mainly covered with Sal trees.
And its geographical feature causes major fall in mercury level. With the mercury dipping to 4 degree Celsius, the snow sheets are spread in the farm barns situated on the river banks. Similar sight of snow sheet was also witnessed on dry grass, green leaves, crops, rooftops of houses and stationery vehicles in the morning hours. Dew drops, which fall in the midnight from the Sal trees, changed the entire region after these freeze into snow. Under the existing conditions, the minimum temperature during midnight likely goes below 4 degrees Celsius. IMD, Raipur sources informed that isolated places across North Chhattisgarh were likely to experience thunderstorm accompanied with lightening during next 24 hours. “Besides, thunderstorm accompanied with hail and lightning is very likely at isolated places across the State of Chhattisgarh on January 1 and thunderstorm accompanied with hail and lightening at few places across Chhattisgarh on January 2”, added the Met sources. Crops destroyed due to extreme cold: Crops grown in the Valley and forested villages are reported to have been destroyed due to extreme cold and freezing of snow. Potatoes, wheat, mustard, pigeon-pea and vegetables grown in the valley have been destroyed. In a bid to keep themselves warm, people across the Chilfi valley are sitting before bonfire to fight the bone-chilling cold.
With mercury dropping to 4 degrees Celsius, cold wave like conditions prevails in the valley. Make arrangements to combat cold: Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has issued instructions to all District Collectors and CEOs of urban administration bodies to ensure all necessary arrangements for protecting people from cold wave conditions in State.
The CM instructed that the administration should ensure that no loss of life takes place due to cold. All District Collectors have been instructed to personally visit and ensure lighting of bonfires at several places during night to save people from cold waves and dropping temperature. They have been directed to arrange for blankets and woolens in ‘Raiyn Basera’ and night shelters being run in the city. Community halls should also be utilized for safety of passengers at nighttime.