Chillai-Kalan Hits Hard: Srinagar Records Coldest Night Since 1974, Anantnag Freezes at -10.5°C

Srinagar, Dec 21: The ongoing cold wave across Kashmir and Ladakh has resulted in plummeting temperatures, with many areas recording severe sub-zero minimums.

The arrival of Chillai-Kalan— the harshest 40-day winter period — has intensified the freezing conditions, leaving residents struggling to cope with the extreme cold.

Srinagar experienced a minimum temperature of -8.5°C, marking the coldest night since 1974 when it dropped to -10.3°C.

The record for the lowest temperature in the city remains -12.8°C, set on December 13, 1964. Today’s reading stands as the third-lowest December temperature in Srinagar since 1891.

Anantnag registered the lowest temperature in the valley at -10.5°C, followed by Shopian at -10.4°C and Pulwama at -10.3°C.

Kupwara shivered at -7.2°C, while Bandipora and Ganderbal recorded -7.4°C and -7.1°C, respectively.

Tourist destinations like Pahalgam and Gulmarg registered -8.6°C and -6.2°C, respectively. Kokernag recorded -5.8°C, Budgam saw -8.3°C, and Larnoo dropped to -9.3°C. Khudwani, too, felt the brunt of the cold, with temperatures reaching -9.0°C.

Due to the lack of snow cover, many hilly areas stayed warmer than the plains, leaving regions like Sonamarg (-8.8°C) and Zojila comparatively insulated from harsher conditions.

In the Jammu region, temperatures ranged from a mild 5.4°C in Jammu city to a frosty -4.4°C in Banihal. Bhaderwah recorded -2.3°C, while Padder in Kishtwar district experienced a freezing -8.0°C.

The harsh winter conditions in Ladakh showed no signs of easing, with Kargil recording -14.3°C and Leh -12.5°C. Drass, often among the coldest inhabited places on Earth, did not report its temperature but is expected to remain similarly frigid.

The severe cold has frozen water pipes in multiple areas, leaving residents without running water, while icy roads have made commuting treacherous.

Officials have urged people to take precautions, including wearing adequate clothing and ensuring heating arrangements, to avoid frostbite and hypothermia. (TK)