Life Under Foggy Skies: The Harsh Reality of Winter

As winter settles in, life begins to slow down under a weight of difficulties that go far beyond the cold itself. The sharp fall in temperature is only the beginning. With the sun positioned farther away from our region, daylight becomes weak and scarce. Whatever little sunlight reaches us has to struggle through thick layers of fog mixed with smoke, leaving the surroundings dim and gloomy. Visibility drops drastically, and even ordinary tasks demand extra alertness, as a single lapse in attention can have serious consequences.

One of the most affected aspects of daily life is travel. Vehicles are forced to crawl along the roads to avoid mishaps, and flights often face delays or cancellations. The situation worsens as winter fires—necessary for warmth—add more smoke to the already dense fog. Unless there is rainfall or snowfall, this haze continues to thicken day by day. That is why many of us wait desperately for precipitation, not just to break the dryness of the season but also to clear the air and restore some normalcy to life.

Though foggy mornings are often romanticised as part of winter’s charm, their impact can be devastating. A recent incident from our village exposed this harsh truth. On the outskirts of the settlement, a leopard attacked a flock of sheep, using the low visibility to its advantage. The shepherd remained unaware until it was too late. By the time he returned to gather his animals, forty-five sheep had already been killed, turning an ordinary day into a tragedy.

Winter poses relentless challenges for the rural population and, in fact, for the entire valley. These five to six months often feel like a period of stagnation, where life depends heavily on supplies collected during the rest of the year. Health issues become common, with many people falling ill as the cold tightens its grip, adding another layer of hardship to an already demanding season.

Some families choose to migrate temporarily to warmer regions, such as the Jammu division, where snowfall is rare. However, this option is limited to those who can afford it. Most people, constrained by economic realities, remain behind and face the harshness head-on. While winter may look breathtaking to an outsider, for those living in the valley it is a season that tests endurance. Here in Kashmir, winter makes it clear that many things often labelled as comforts are, in reality, basic necessities.