SRINAGAR: Kashmir entered the first night of ‘Chillai Kalan,’ the harshest 40-day winter period, with temperatures dropping to record lows across the valley. The biting cold gripped the region, freezing water bodies and forcing residents to heat water lines to defreeze taps.
Srinagar recorded a bone-chilling -8.5°C, the coldest night of the season. After 1990, Srinagar recorded the coldest night in December which is the third lowest December temperature ever recorded in Srinagar in the last 133 years.
Qazigund experienced -8.2°C, while Pahalgam and Sonamarg registered -8.6°C and -8.8°C, respectively. In Kupwara, the temperature dropped to -7.2°C, and Kokernag recorded -5.8°C. Other locations in the valley were similarly frigid, with Gulmarg at -6.2°C, Bandipora at -7.4°C, Baramulla at -6.2°C, and Budgam at -8.3°C. Ganderbal saw temperatures fall to -7.1°C. The southern districts experienced even colder conditions, with Pulwama registering -10.3°C, Anantnag -10.5°C, Shopian -10.4°C, Larnoo -9.3°C, Khudwani -9.0°C, and Kulgam -6.8°C.
In the Jammu region, the plains saw comparatively milder temperatures, with Jammu city recording 5.4°C. Banihal recorded -4.4°C, Batote 0.5°C, and Katra 6.0°C. Bhaderwah experienced -2.3°C, while Kishtwar recorded 1.1°C. Padder saw the mercury dip to -8.0°C, while Ramban, Poonch, Rajouri, Samba, Kathua, Reasi, and Udhampur recorded 3.6°C, 1.5°C, 1.7°C, 1.4°C, 5.7°C, 2.8°C, and 1.5°C, respectively.
The cold in Ladakh was even more intense, with Leh recording -12.5°C and Kargil a freezing -14.3°C.
Director of the Meteorological Department, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, has warned of harsher weather ahead, with the cold wave expected to intensify further after December 23. These freezing temperatures signal a harsh start to Chilai Kalan, which is known for its unforgiving conditions.
