Kashmir, nestled in the embrace of “Chilla-i-Kalan”, a 40-day winter behemoth, shivers amidst frigid temperatures and dense fog. Dal Lake, a shimmering beauty in summer, lies frozen, mirroring the biting cold that grips water pipes and spirits alike. Snowfall, ever-present during this harsh period, blankets higher reaches, a reminder of winter’s dominion.
Srinagar, the heart of the Valley, barely saw the sunrise, cloaked in dense fog for the third consecutive day. Visibility dipped below 50 meters, causing traffic to crawl and motorists to squint through the hazy veil. The transport department, worried by this “worst-ever” fog, issued cautious advisories.
This chill, however, didn’t hold dominion over the skies. Srinagar International Airport hummed with activity, even as flights from Delhi and other northern cities, bowed to the bad weather brewing there.
Further south, Pahalgam, the Amarnath Yatra’s base camp, recorded a bone-chilling -5.4°C. Gulmarg, the famed ski resort, wasn’t far behind at -2.5°C. Qazigund, Kokernag, and Kupwara shivered at -4.2°C, -2.6°C, and -4°C respectively.
But the coldest crown belonged to Ganderbal, Bandipora, and Budgam, where independent forecasters registered a season-low of -6.7°C. These areas, cloaked in an impenetrable fog, bore the brunt of winter’s wrath.
This icy grip brought more than just inconvenience. Coughs, colds, and other respiratory woes, fueled by the frigid air, plagued children and the elderly. Doctors, worried by the rising ailments, urged caution: masks during outings, especially in the mornings and evenings, became the new armor against winter’s sting.
