Written by Mudassir Kuloo

Tucked away in South Kashmir’s Shopian district, Hirpora is a village that battles extreme winters every year. Located around 70 kilometres from Srinagar, the village experiences temperatures as low as minus 15 degrees Celsius from November to March. Snowfall often blankets the landscape in five to six feet of snow, blocking roads and making movement nearly impossible.

Farming and daily labour, the main sources of livelihood, grind to a halt in the winter, leaving residents to rely on stored food supplies. Water scarcity only adds to the struggle, as freezing temperatures block water pipes, forcing people to fetch water from springs or melt snow for daily use.

Yet, in the midst of these challenges, 55-year-old Ulfata Bano sets out every day to deliver letters and parcels, ensuring that Hirpora stays connected to the outside world. Wrapped in a pheran (a traditional Kashmiri woolen cloak), a woolen cap, and a scarf, she navigates the snow-covered paths with determination.

“I have been working as a........

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