At Tikri, protesters set up camps to brave cold

Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 18

As the night temperatures dip further and icy winds sweep the North, farmers have started constructing covered structures on road dividers at the Tikri border.

Most affected in this bone-chilling cold are the elders. The protest venue has witnessed at least six deaths of farmers due to exposure to cold weather since November 26.

“As the night temperatures continue to dip further, we are left with no other alternative but to fortify our living quarters,” says Jeon Singh, an elderly farmer from Sangrur district. Harjeet Singh, a young farmer from Jeonwala village in Faridkot, says: “We are getting help from locals for items like wood. At the same time, we are also making our own purchases for covers of our tents and poles.”

People from other regions are pitching in, too, to help farmers brave cold weather. Rubina Sanghera, a Chandigarh resident, says after their group’s first visit to the site of farmers’ protest they have now sent “270 blankets, 500 pairs of warm socks, 40 shawls, 30 jackets and about 80 legwarmers”.

Sahildeep Singh, a worker of the Kirti Kisan Union, says: “We are getting similar help from many others quarters. However, we need more help for fighting the cold. Like, at the moment majority of the camps here require geysers for hot water. Normal water is freezing.”

Gurpratap Singh, another farmer, says: “We had to pick a few poles from the government sites to make our tents. But what do we do? We young can sit in front of the fires, but, our elders cannot manage. We need the cover also, however, we are making these first for our elders”.

Elderly Angriez Singh says: “North-westerly winds during winters are very dangerous. It has snowed heavily on the mountains, so we have to stay prepared for the worst. Even the day temperatures are going to be bad in the coming days”.