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Severest winter ahead for Kashmir

The 40-day-long severest part of winter known as "Chilaikalan" has set in Kashmir valley on Sunday.

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SRINAGAR: The 40-day-long severest part of winter known as "Chilaikalan" has set in Kashmir valley on Sunday, but on a warmer note with a bright sun and mercury recording two notches above the normal.
   
The minimum temperature in Srinagar was four degree Celisus -- 2.6 degrees above normal which is unusual during this part of winter, Met office said.
   
The onset of Chilaikalan preceeded snowfall in the upper reaches and incessant rains in the valley, which prompted authorities to suspend traffic on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, on Saturday.
   
However, the highway, which was blocked by landslides at Panthal, was thrown open to traffic on Sunday morning, facilitating transport of vegetables as people mostly depend on produces from Jammu and northern states.
   
The cold wave began a bit early this year in the valley following first snowfall lashing wide parts of Kashmir, including Srinagar in November.
   
Snowfall and rains had lashed upper reaches and plains periodically with the famous Ski resort of Gulmarg experiencing a fresh two feet of snow till Saturday.    

The border towns of Gurez, Tulail, Teetwal, Karnah, Tangdhar, Keran and Machil were cut off from rest of the valley.
   
Srinagar and its suburbs had rains since Friday evening and the temperature had considerably dipped due to the chill in the air, but relaxed after Sunday's bright sun.
    
Though 'Chilaikalan' would end on January 31, the winter would continue. The period would be followed by a 20-day long 'Chilai Khurd' and a 10-day long 'Chila Bachha'.

In the frontier district of Kupwara, the upper reaches including Devar, Khanditop, Sogum, Waderballa, Teetwal, Machil and Rajwara had received heavy snowfall bringing down mercury to sub-zero, the Met office said.
    
Famed tourist resort of Pahalgam in South Kashmir, the base camp of Amarnath shrine, had received rains. The cave shrine and its periphery had about two feet of fresh snowfall.
    
Panjterni, Pisso top, Mahaguns, Sheshnag, Zojilla pass and Baltal on Srinagar-Leh road also experienced snowfall.
    
Considering the Chilaikalan period as one when 'earth and the trees become dead', no new tree is planted now, except for those who grow plants in green houses.

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