Kashmir Shivers as Chillai Kalan Begins with First Snowfall
Kashmir Shivers as Chillai Kalan Begins with First Snowfall
North India's winter tightens as Kashmir records the season's first snowfall while plains endure dense fog and chilly nights.
Chillai Kalan, the harshest stretch of winter in the region, begins in Jammu and Kashmir with the season's first snowfall reported in several areas today. In the Srinagar valley, light to moderate snow dusts the higher reaches, while temperatures dip, signaling the coming cold.
Across North India, the cold wave continues. The plains of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan are seeing dense fog and rain as IMD predicts more wintry conditions over the next 24-48 hours.
Punjab and Haryana report minimum temperatures hovering above normal: Chandigarh at 8.3 C, Amritsar at 9.7 C, Ludhiana 7.2 C, Patiala 9.4 C, and Rohtak 10 C, among others, as chilly mornings persist.
Delhi's air quality remains very poor with an AQI around 366, a reminder of the layered challenges that accompany the cold spell for commuters and residents alike.
Residents are urged to bundle up, keep vulnerable groups indoors during peak cold, and follow local advisories as fog and light rain may reduce visibility and travel times in the coming days.
IMD forecasts indicate that wintry conditions are likely to persist over the next 24-48 hours, with more snow in higher reaches and dense fog lingering in the plains. Officials say monitoring will continue and travel advisories may be updated as conditions evolve.
