KASHMIR; Harshest period of winter “Chila-e-Kalan” ends
Upper reaches still cloaked in snow
Waseem Baba Srinagar,CNS,31-Jan;There is already a palpable difference in the temperature. Night temperatures have also risen as 40 days of Chila-e-Kalan came to end in Kashmir valley. The period lasts between December 20 to January 30.
Snowfall during the period last till summer and replinses the water stocks in rivers, lakes and streams. Snowfall during Chlia-e-Kalan is the main source of drinking water and for irrigation throughout the summer.
Although the sun still plates hide and seek with the clouds, the chill in the air has reduced.
“This Chillai Kalan was relatively warmer and we didn’t experience extreme sub-zero temperatures particularly in the city. The precipitation was also less. The mild snow layer didn’t sustain on city surfaces leading to dry weather while the skies remained mostly cloudy,” said IMD meteorologist Mohammad Hussain Mir.
Kashmir’s winter pans out in three stages starting with Chillai Kalan from December 21 which brings most of the snowfall and sub-zero temperatures during the season followed by 20 more days which are less intense (called Chillai Khurd) and then lastly 10 days of mild cold (Chille Bache).
Winter also called “wande” impacts health and mood, slows life in Kashmir as the sub zero temperatures makes normal life difficult and Kanger, an earth pot covered with fine wicker sticks, with hot burning coal to keep warm in winters will continue for another month or two.
Last year, the winter had prolonged with snowfall starting in November which had damaged apple and saffron crop, uprooted trees and led to the loss of lives of 19 persons, including 10 soldiers, in many snow-related accidents and avalanches. Also, the minimum temperatures had dropped to record levels in Srinagar leading to freezing of water bodies and pipes carrying potable water..(CNS)
