Srinagar Records Coldest December Night in 50 Years as Chillai Kalan Begins

Temperatures dropped to -8.5°C in Srinagar, marking the harshest start to Kashmir's 40-day winter period, with freezing conditions across the region.

The 40-day Chillai Kalan, Kashmir's harshest winter period, began with Srinagar experiencing its coldest December night since 1974 at -8.5°C.
Dal Lake and other water bodies partially froze, while sub-zero temperatures disrupted water supply lines across the valley.
Tourist destinations like Pahalgam and Gulmarg registered lows of -8.6°C and -6.2°C, respectively, with Konibal recording the valley's lowest at -10.5°C.
The meteorological department forecasts dry weather with light snowfall in higher reaches on December 27-28 and New Year's Eve.
Jammu and Kashmir's chief minister, Omar Abdullah, has postponed events to oversee winter preparedness, including power and essential services in Srinagar.