Some parts of Rajasthan also experienced intense cold wave conditions, with Karauli recording the lowest temperature at 4.5 degree Celsius on Sunday.
The 40-day-long period known as Chillai Kalan, marking the harshest phase of winter in Kashmir, commenced on Saturday with an unprecedented cold spell. According to the meteorological department, Srinagar experienced its coldest December night in five decades as temperatures plunged to a chilling minus 8.5 degrees Celsius.
At minus 8.5 degrees Celsius, it was Srinagar’s coldest December night since 1974, when the city recorded a low of minus 10.3 degrees Celsius, and the third coldest since 1891.
Srinagar’s lowest-ever minimum temperature in this month was minus 12.8 degrees Celsius on December 13, 1934.
‘Chillai Kalan’ will conclude on January 31, 2025 but, even after that the cold wave conditions will continue in the valley. This is because a 20-day Chillai Khurd (small cold) and a 10-day Chillai-Bachha (baby cold) will begin after the 40-day period.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has also taken note of the severe cold wave conditions in the valley, cancelling his forthcoming programmes in Jammu.
In a post on X, Abdullah said that he will be stationed in Srinagar for the next week to “personally monitor” the arrangements made for the harsh winter period and the functioning of electricity and other power departments.
“I do appreciate that cancelling my programmes in Jammu will cause some inconvenience to the organisers & I regret the same. However under the circumstances this is the right thing to do & I will make it up to the people/organisations whose programmes have been affected,” he added.