Srinagar: Fresh snowfall was received across Kashmir valley on Friday — the eve of the winter’s 40-day long core period known as chillai kalan — which led to air traffic disruptions as 12 Srinagar-bound flights were cancelled.
Chillai Kalan from today
The winter’s core period, which lasts 40 days and is known as Chillai Kalan in local parlance, will begin from Saturday, the day of winter solstice when the northern hemisphere has its maximum tilt away from the sun. Chillai Kalan is marked by freezing climatic conditions and frequent spells of precipitation.
The snowfall was received in several parts of Kashmir valley since late morning and continued for several hours.
An official of the Meteorological Centre said the snowfall was received in several parts of Kashmir valley, including the city here, and also in the higher reaches of the region.
In Srinagar, the intensity of snowfall was light as it continued for several hours during the day.
The Meteorological Centre official said the snowfall was likely to continue with varying intensity during the night and the weather was expected to improve on Saturday with precipitation at isolated places.
The fresh snowfall – which was the fourth such spell since November this year when heavy snow was received in the region – also caused disruption in the air traffic.
A senior official at the Srinagar International Airport said the disruptions were caused in the afternoon when the snowfall began in the city and fog clouded visibility.
The official said 12 flights scheduled in the afternoon were cancelled. “During the pre-noon hours, 13 flights operated but 12 flights scheduled in the afternoon were cancelled of which one flight coming from Delhi was sent back to Delhi,” the official said.
Kashmir valley faces a bitter and harsh winter this year as mercury has plunged to freezing levels during the past weeks, much ahead of the core period of the winter.