Antonio Gonsalves

Rome, Feb 4: Mercury has plunged below -35°C in Eastern Europe freezing people to death. At present more then 101 victims reported dead in Ukraine. People were found dead on streets. Poland, Siberia, Romania, Bulgaria and other eastern European countries have reported deaths.

Excessive low weather temperatures with heavy snowing and blizzards have taken lives of people for power cuts and dis functioning of heaters. Rescue operations and evacuation to those trapped is taken over by the military forces and treated in hospitals for frostbites.

North Italy is crippled with heavy snowfall that has led to closure of schools and institutions and affected public transportation of trains and airports causing delays and cancellations. People are advice not to undertake travels. The city of Milan and Turin the major cities in the province of Lombardy and Piemonte are witnessing heavy snowfall and freezing winds.

Also the Eternal City Rome is witnessing snowfall and the Civil protection forces are working on red alert. The north of the city awaked with 5cms of snow. The commune of Rome is on constant vigil and setting up protection centres. Excessive cold winds and rains is brining the city life to shivers of life and casualties of accidents. Generally Rome does not snow and that’s how it was an ideal capital city for the ancient Romans. But these years it wakes up with snow, tourists and people who have never seen snowing find elations of wonderstruck memories of snow pelting, snow dolls and photo snaps sharing over social network websites. Queues of tourists undeterred to witness the monuments at Coloseum and St Peter’s Square.

Pilgrimage Director and Parish priest of Offida, Fr Sebastian Dias msscc, has directed attention to tourists and visitors visiting Europe. He said, “Visitor’s to check the weather and transport with their travel agencies before travelling and to carry information numbers of the embassy and consulates, local communes but not to forget to carry sufficient thermal warm clothing’s, first aid kit”.