Chillai Kalan: Bone-chilling cold hits Kashmir

The 40-day-long period of harsh winter cold called the 'Chillai Kalan' in local parlance, started in Jammu and Kashmir with the coldest night of this season. Mercury dropped several notches below the freezing point at several places.

Intense cold wave conditions whipped through Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as the harsh winter period of 'Chillai Kalan' started on Wednesday (December 21). Credit: Special Arrangement

During this time, night temperatures were expected to drop several notches below the freezing point in Kashmir and Ladakh. Credit: PTI Photo

The harshest winter period saw the mercury dropping several notches below the freezing point in many places including Pahalgam on December 21, which recorded the lowest night temperature at minus 6.2 degrees Celsius. Credit: PTI Photo

Many water bodies, including the Dal and Wullar Lakes and others have partially frozen due to the extreme cold. Credit: PTI Photo

At several areas, people woke up to frozen taps. Credit: Special Arrangement

The famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir's Baramulla district recorded a low of minus 4.6 degrees Celsius. Credit: PTI Photo

The mercury settled at a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius in north Kashmir's Kupwara, minus 4.2 degrees Celsius in Qazigund and minus 2.4 degrees Celsius in Kokernag. Credit: PTI Photo

Tourists take selfies near the Dal Lake as the 40-days harshest winter period Chillai Kalan begins, in Srinagar. Credit: PTI Photo

The meteorological department has forecast mostly dry weather in Jammu and Kashmir till December 24. Credit: PTI Photo

'Chillai-Kalan' will end on January 30. The cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir with a 20-day 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold). Credit: PTI Photo