Most of the natural deaths in Valley occur during these 40 days, experts advise people above 50 not to venture out during evenings and mornings
Srinagar: Kashmir is waking up tomorrow to reluctantly welcome the 40-day harshest winter period, known as Chillai Kalan as most of the areas in the Valley are facing acute electric power supply with mercury going to dip further.
Beginning on December 21, Chillai Kalan is a 40-day period when Kashmir Valley faces its harshest winter. This period begins on 21 December and ends on 31 January of the next year. It is followed by a 20-day long Chillai-Khurd (small cold) that occurs between January 31 and February 19 and a 10-day long Chillai-Bachha (baby cold) which begins from February 20 to March 2.
While the Chillas, following the Kalan are milder ones, the Kalan has all along been taking its toll on Kashmiris.
Most of the deaths, by natural causes, do occur during this season as, particularly, elderly people can’t stand the acute chill.
Though there has been no scientific research, the tomb stones in local graveyards indicate that most of the deaths (natural) occur between December and February.
While there are always some reports regarding deaths due to cold in rest of the country, in Kashmir, these deaths are seen as natural.
The experts are of the opinion that the people of Kashmir have to understand the severity of these 40 days and those above 50, have to be more cautious.
Stay in house and stay warm, as much as you can, suggest experts to each and everyone above 50 years of age.
In absence of proper electric power supply, the people are advised to adopt to local devices of warmth but don’t come out of your homes during evenings and mornings unless you are properly covered from head to toe, say the experts.
Meanwhile, a day ahead of the harshest winter period, the mercury has settled below freezing point at almost all the stations across the Valley with Srinagar shivering at minus 4.4 degree Celsius.
Pahalgam was, however, the coldest place in Kashmir where mercury settled at minus 6.3 degree Celsius while Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 4.4 degree Celsius.
In Qazigund, the mercury settled at minus 4.0 degree Celsius while Kupwara and Kokernag recorded a low of minus 3.5 degree Celsius and 3.3 degree Celsius respectively.
The weather is expected to remain generally dry and cloudy till December 22nd with possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches expected on December 23.
