Srinagar, Jan. 31 -- The 40-day harshest winter period in Kashmir known as 'Chillai Kalan' ended on a sunny note on Thursday.Chillai Kalan, which starts on December 21, is a period when chances of snowfall are maximum and temperatures stay many degrees below freezing point during the night.The minimum temperature dropped to bone-chilling levels this winter as the mercury dipped to minus 8.5 degrees Celsius in Srinagar on the very first day of Chillai Kalan, breaking a 50-year-old record.However, snowfall during this period remained elusive, with January receiving scant precipitation.The harsh winter period was also marked by warmer-than-usual days as maximum temperatures stayed five to seven degrees above normal in the second half of Janu...