Kashmir’s harshest winter period, ‘Chilai Kalan,’ begins on December 21 and lasts 40 days. During this time, the region experiences intense cold, with frequent snowfall and temperatures dropping well below freezing. Water bodies freeze at night, forcing people to heat water lines to unfreeze taps. Srinagar recently recorded its coldest night of the season at -6.2°C. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Director of MeT Kashmir, predicts a harsher Chilai Kalan this year, with the cold wave intensifying further after December 23.
