40-day harsh winter period ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ ends in Valley

Srinagar, January 30

The 40-day harsh winter period known as ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ ended on Tuesday with no snowfall in the plains of Kashmir and below normal precipitation in the higher reaches of the Valley, officials said.

Avalanche warning issued in Ganderbal

The authorities in Ganderbal district on Tuesday issued an avalanche warning in the wake of snowfall in the higher reaches of the valley, officials said. A low-danger level avalanche warning was issued to the people of the central Kashmir, they said

While there was light to moderate snowfall in the higher reaches of the Valley at the fag-end of the 40-day period, most of the Chilla-i-Kalan – when the chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent – remained dry.

The Valley witnessed a prolonged dry spell this winter, with no snowfall in the plains.

During the 40-day harsh winter period, a cold wave sweeps the region and temperatures drop considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies and water in supply pipes.

Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.3 degrees Celsius, Qazigund 0.4 degrees Celsius, Kokernag 0.7 degrees Celsius and Kupwara 0.3 degrees Celsius. Gulmarg registered a low of minus 6 degrees Celsius – down from minus 3.2 degrees Celsius and was the coldest place in the Valley.