Chillai-Kalan begins: Kashmir Valley transforms into a Winter Wonderland

Fresh snowfall blanketed the higher reaches of Kashmir Valley, including ski resort Gulmarg and Sonamarg, while plains saw rain, as the harsh 40-day ‘Chillai-Kalan’ winter period began on Sunday. The timely snow has delighted the tourism sector, boosting hopes among visitors and locals ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations.

On the other hand, dense fog and severe cold wave conditions gripped several Northern Indian States, significantly disrupting transport and daily life. A total of 110 flights were cancelled, and over 370 flights were delayed due to low-visibility conditions amid fog at the Delhi airport on Sunday. Thousands of passengers were left stranded for long hours in harsh weather conditions staring at the flight schedule.An official said 59 arrivals and 51 departures were cancelled at the airport. At least 11 flights were cancelled on Sunday at Srinagar International Airport, following snowfall in the upper reaches.In New Delhi, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) also issued an advisory warning of delays and changes in the flight operations due to reduced visibility, as dense fog has gripped North India.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of dense to very dense fog, further reducing visibility and compounding the impact of pollution. Orange alerts, the second-highest warning level, were issued for large parts of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Chandigarh, cautioning residents and authorities about possible disruptions to road, rail, and air traffic.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has deployed passenger assistance teams at affected airports to provide on-ground support. IndiGo has also issued an advisory regarding the impacted flight schedules due to low visibility. The airline said that low visibility and fog over Bangalore and Amritsar have impacted flight schedules.In Kashmir, the MET department has already predicted more rain and snowfall over the next 48 hours.Further the MET department predicted moderate snowfall expected at higher altitudes and continued cold conditions across the Kashmir.

Authorities have advised people to exercise caution while travelling, particularly in snow-bound and mountainous areas, as temperatures are expected to dip further during this period.The fresh precipitation helped disperse accumulated pollutants, leading to better visibility and improved air quality, especially in urban centres that had been grappling with low AQI levels over the past week.

Meanwhile, traffic authorities informed that vehicular movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) is continuing from both sides despite inclement weather. However, the Mughal Road, Sinthan Pass and Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri (SSG) road remain closed due to snow accumulation. Commuters have been advised not to rely on rumours and to check official traffic updates through the Traffic Police social media handles and Traffic Control Units.