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| Amid intense cold, Kashmir valley braces for Chillai-Kalan | | |  Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Dec 19: Residents in the Valley brace up for Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day period of the harshest winter in the region as the mercury dipped by several degrees at most of the places in this part of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Chillai-Kalan begins from December 21, and during this period the weather in Kashmir valley continues to remain dry and cold with minimum temperatures hovering below the freezing point.
The people usually stock up essentials including dried vegetables, coal and kerosene. The demand for Kangri - an earthen fire pot woven by a wicker case - has gone up while woolens and jackets are already out.
Chillai-Kalan, which begins with winter solstice on December 21, ends on January 31 next year. The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long Chillai-Khurd (small cold) and a 10-day long Chillai-Bachha (baby cold).
The minimum temperatures of Jammu and Kashmir are already heading south. Anantnag, Banihal, Batote, Gulmarg, Kukernag, Kupwara and Qazigund are witnessing minimum temperatures in the range of -3 and -5 degree, Srinagar and Gulmarg are recording minimum temperature around -6 degrees. Most of the districts of Jammu and Kashmir are witnessing freezing morning and nights.
The 40-day period of 'Chillai-Kalan' is the favourable period for upper reaches of valley to receive snowfall. During this period intensity of western disturbances are usually very high. Heavy to very heavy snowfall leads to subzero temperatures across the valley. Chillai-Kalan period is known for freezing temperatures, lakes and river get frozen.
During these 40 days, chances of snowfall are highest, and the maximum temperature drops significantly. During Chillai-Kalan, the weather in Kashmir valley continues to remain very cold and minimum temperatures usually hoverers below freezing point and the snowfall during this 40-day period is much heavier and lasts longer.
It is to mention here that summer capital Srinagar recording the lowest temperature of the season on Friday night, which was also the second coldest December night in the past one decade.
The mercury dipped to minus 6.6 degrees Celsius in Srinagar on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, said a meteorological department officer.
Tourist resort of Gulmarg witnessed a temperature of 9.9 degree Celsius. Gulmarg had already four spells of snow this winter and the winter games have already begun on the icy slopes of the resort.
The cold wave has left water taps frozen across Kashmir.
"Lowest minimum temperatures in the last 10 years in the month of December were -7.7 °c on December 25,2018, -6.6 °c on December 18, 2020, -6.5°c on Dec 21, 2016 and Dec 30, 2019 and -6.4 °c on December 17 ,2020," said deputy director of Srinagar based meteorological department.
Jammu was also cold at 3.3 degrees. Leh in the Union Territory of Ladakh recorded a low of minus 16.4 degrees Celsius, while Kargil recorded a low of minus 21.1 degrees C and Drass, the second coldest place in the world, observed minus 29.0 degrees C temperature.Z |
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