The harshest spell of winter, known as Chillai Kalan, began in Kashmir on Monday as dry cold conditions prevail in the mountainous region even as meteorologists have not predicted precipitation for more than a week.
Even as a sunny day increased temperature by a few notches, the cloudless night triggered severe cold wave that had frozen fringes of the Dal lake and many springs across the Valley.
Chilai Kalan is the 40-day spell of the harshest winter that starts on December 21, which is the smallest day of the year. During this period, chances of snowfall remain the highest. Although braving the chill during this period is the biggest challenge for the locals who encounter umpteen difficulties from deficiency of electricity to the shortage of essential supplies, the snowfall of this period is cherished for its longevity. The sub-zero temperatures freeze the snow, especially in glaciers and upper reaches, which ensures steady flow of water throughout the year.
“When snowfall occurs in abundance during Chillai Kalan, it is guaranteed that drought-like conditions would not arise during the peak of summer season. The streams remain brimming with ice-cold water”, said Khazir Muhammad, an elderly farmer from south Kashmir. However, the winter chill also brings miseries to the people. Elderly persons, children and infirm remain highly vulnerable to viral diseases and chest infections.
The people’s miseries multiply with scarce power supply and shortage or skyrocketing prices of essential commodities. Chief Engineer Power Development Department Bashir Ahmad Mir said that shortage of power increases manifold during the winter months and the department is bound to go for massive power cuts and load-shedding.
Meanwhile, ladakh region remained the coldest in the State with temperature plummeting to deeper sub-zero levels. The coldest town in the State was leh where the minimum temperature dropped to minus 15.1 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature was recorded at minus 7.2 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam and minus 11.0 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg. The minimum temperatures were 4.9 degrees Celsius in Jammu district and 5.3 degrees Celsius in Mata Vaishno Devi base camp town of Katra.