40-day long ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ begins today in Kashmir

A frozen water stream on the outskirts of Srinagar early Wednesday morning. —Excelsior/Shakeel
A frozen water stream on the outskirts of Srinagar early Wednesday morning. —Excelsior/Shakeel

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Dec 20: The 40-day long harshest period of winter ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ begins in Kashmir tomorrow with temperatures across the Valley already settling several degrees below the freezing point.
The ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ is the 40-day harshest winter period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies, including the famous Dal Lake here as well as the water supply lines in several parts of the Valley.
In the meantime, the temperature across Kashmir stayed several degrees below the freezing today.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius on Tuesday night, down from the previous night’s minus 3.7 degree Celsius.
Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of minus 6.3 degrees Celsius.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 4 degree Celsius, Kokernag town saw the minimum temperature settled at minus 3.3 degrees Celsius and Kupwara recorded a low of minus 3.5 degrees Celsius.
The weatherman has forecast generally dry weather over the next few days in Kashmir as the minimum temperature is expected to dip further.
The drop in temperature has resulted in freezing of water bodies. It has also resulted in freezing of water supply pipes in some areas.