Mountain ranges of Mao area under Senapati district and Shirui range of Ukhrul district have been witnessing snowfall for the last few days, while a severe cold weather is sweeping across Manipur as the state experienced a rare snowfall, affecting normal life both in hills and valley areas.
A video clip showing Liyai village youths playing in the snow had gone viral in social media, following which, many youths started visiting the area.
Residents of Mao told the Imphal Free Press that more youths started visiting the base camp of Mount Iso, the highest peak of the state, to witness the snow. The snowfall was seen in some other villages like Purul and Maiba.
"We recieve snowfall every year in the village during January to February end," they said.
Manipur recorded a minimum temperature 4.81 degree Celsius on Thursday, as per the daily weather report of the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, government of Manipur.
According to the directorate, the temperature has been fluctuating since January. On January 29, Senapati recorded a minimum of 1.8 degree Celsius and Ukhrul recorded 1.04 degree Celsius. On Thursday, Senapati's minimum temperature was 5.28 degree Celsius and Ukhrul recorded at 4.81 degree Celsius.
Snowfall was also seen in the hill districts of Ukhrul and Senapati districts. The cold winds blew towards the valley districts, bringing down the temperature. In Manipur, snowfall commonly occurs in some high mountains like Koubru and Dzuko.
"The state experienced snowfall only in severe cold month of January during the 1980s. Snowfall had not occurred since the last few decades but it started snowing again six years ago, showing signs of climate change," said joint director T Brajakumar of the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change.
