Chillai-Kalan freezes Kashmir; weatherman predicts rains

The mercury remains sub-zero at most places in Kashmir and Ladakh, even as it went up by few notches amidst MET office forecast of scattered rains for next two days.

Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, an increase of two degrees from the previous night's minus 5.2 degrees Celsius, a spokesman for the MET department said in Srinagar.

The minimum temperature at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg registered an increase of over four degrees from the previous night's minus 10.2 degrees Celsius to settle at minus 5.7 degrees Celsius.

Another famous tourist resort Pahalgam, which serves as a base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, also an increase of over four degrees from minus 8.0 degrees Celsius of the previous night, the spokesman said.

He said Kupwara town in north Kashmir and Kokernag in south also registered an increase in the minimum temperature as the mercury settled at minus 3.0 degrees Celsius and minus 3.6 degrees Celsius respectively.

Qazigund, the gateway town to the Valley recorded a low of minus 4.0 degrees Celsius as compared to the previous night's minus 3.8 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said, adding the town was the only recorded place in the Valley where the night temperature went down.

The mercury in Leh, in the frontier Ladakh region, went up by over six notches from the previous night's minus 16.2 degrees Celsius to settle at minus 10.1 degrees Celsius.

However, Leh continued to be the coldest recorded place in the state.

The nearby Kargil town also registered an increase of six degrees in the night temperature as the mercury there settled at a low of minus 9.0 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said, adding the town had recorded a low of minus 15.0 degrees Celsius the previous night.

The Meteorological Department has predicted isolated to scattered rainfall in the Valley over two days from Saturday.

Kashmir Valley is currently under the grip of the 40-day harsh winter period known as 'Chillai-Kalan' which began on December 21 and during which the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum.

The temperatures also drop during this period leading to shivering cold across the state.

Though the Chillai-Kalan ends on January 31 next year, the cold wave usually continues even after that.

The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold).

Photograph: PTI Photo