Dal Lake Freezes As 'Chillai Kallan' Brings Intense Cold To Kashmir — WATCH
Chillai Kalan began in Kashmir on Saturday, as the weather is starting to get harsher the famous Dal Lake is starting to freeze over.
The Dal Lake has begun to freeze over, after the harshest period of winter – Chillai Kalan – began on Saturday. Boaters were seen breaking the thin sheet of ice forming over the lake to row. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) the minimum temperature on Monday was recorded to be minus 3.6 degrees Celsius at 8:30 am.
VIDEO | Harshest winter period in Kashmir 'Chillai Kalan' started two days back, and with that the iconic, and picturesque Dal Lake in Srinagar has started to freeze. Shikara operators were seen breaking the ice sheets formed on the surface of lake through their paddle in order… pic.twitter.com/r08hSlSfmp
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 23, 2024
Between Friday and Saturday night, Srinagar experienced its coldest December night in five decades 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. The lowest-ever minimum temperature Srinagar ever recorded in December was minus 12.8 degrees Celsius on December 13, 1934.
People were seen sitting around bonfires to protect themselves from the harsh winters. "The weather has become very cold.. our hands have started freezing and the Dal lake has frozen... this is the first time the city has experienced such a temperature.." said a local resident while speaking to ANI.
#WATCH | Srinagar, J&K | The surface of Dal Lake freezes as intensifying coldwave grips Kashmir Valley. As per the IMD, the maximum temperature is -7°C and the minimum is -7°C.
— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2024
People sit by a bonfire to keep themselves warm pic.twitter.com/yqaU187qiU
Another resident said that snowfall could occur in the city due to the current temperatures. "There is a very high chance that there might be snowfall here [Srinagar].. it is very cold right now. People should take all measures to protect themselves," said the resident.
During the 40 days of Chillai-Kalan, the chances of snowfall are the maximum and the temperature drops considerably.
The meteorological office has forecast mainly dry weather till December 26. Light snow over the higher reaches is also possible from the afternoon of December 27 till December 28. The weather will likely be mainly dry on December 29-30 while light snowfall is expected in the higher reaches on New Year's Eve.
Chillai Kalan will end on January 31 next year but the cold wave continues in the valley as it is followed by a 20-day 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold).
#WATCH | Srinagar, J&K: The surface of Dal Lake freezes as intensifying coldwave grips Kashmir Valley. pic.twitter.com/u8X2B7Z5jI
— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2024
Due to the weather conditions, water and electricity supply are affected. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had cancelled his scheduled programmes in Jammu to oversee the working of the power and other departments amid the severe cold spell in the state. "In light of the severe cold spell in the Kashmir valley & the resultant difficulties with water & electricity supply, I have decided to cancel my forthcoming programmes in Jammu & station myself in Srinagar for the next week to personally monitor the functioning of the Power department & other important departments," Abdullah posted on X while travelling to Srinagar from Rajasthan's Jaisalmer.
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