A drop in temperature has been recorded in Kashmir ahead of ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the harshest phase of winter in the Valley. In the capital Srinagar, the minimum temperature was recorded at 0.4 degrees Celsius. Although this is slightly above the seasonal average, sharp and penetrating cold in the early morning hours has gripped the city.
Chillai-Kalan, also known as the ‘Great Winter’, is considered the most severe 40-day period of winter in Kashmir. It usually extends from the end of December to the beginning of February, when temperatures fall to their lowest levels. During this phase, the Kashmir Valley experiences intense cold, frequent snowfall, and severe cold wave conditions.
