Kashmir’s Brave Postwoman Walks Miles in Snow to Deliver Mail for 30 Years

5 May 2025

In Kashmir’s Hirpora village, winters bring six feet of snow and temperatures as low as –15°C. Life slows down, but one woman keeps moving.

Meet 55-year-old Ulfata Bano. For 30 years, she has walked through snow and storms to deliver letters, keeping her village connected to the outside world.

“I have been working as a postwoman for over 30 years… Even during harsh winters, I walk several kilometres to deliver mail,” says Ulfata.

Dressed in a pheran, cap, and long boots, she heads out daily — umbrella in one hand, parcels in the other — across slippery, snow-covered paths.

She earns Rs 22,000 a month and works with a male colleague. He collects the post; she delivers 20–25 letters and parcels, often on foot.

“Some parcels are heavy and it’s hard at my age. My son sometimes helps by driving me to nearby locations. But mostly, I walk,” Ulfata shares.

A job that demands more than strength She never learned to drive. “Walking daily keeps me fit. There are hardships, but my job requires me to overcome them,” she says.

Her husband, a retired postman, says, “Even young people struggle to walk in such snow. But she heads out every day — rain or snow, she never stops.”

Hirpora borders a wildlife sanctuary. In winter, leopards and bears come close in search of food. Her family often worries when she’s out alone.

“Walking through four–five feet of snow is difficult, especially at my age… But I push forward, driven by duty and commitment,” Ulfata adds.

Why she still keeps going Students in Hirpora rely on her. “Her work helps students like me stay connected to studies,” says Shahid Ahmad, a college student.

“What keeps me going? The smiles of people who rely on me. Despite the hardships, it makes every step through the snow worthwhile,” says Ulfata.