Srinagar, Jan. 31 -- Barring two brief spells of snow, the 40-day-long harshest winter period known as "Chillai Kalan" concluded in the Kashmir Valley overnight on a dry note.
Traditionally marked by heavy snowfalls and freezing conditions, this year's "Chillai Kalan" deviated significantly from its typical pattern. The region witnessed a substantial deficit in rainfall and snowfall, raising serious concerns about water scarcity in the months ahead.
"This January, Jammu and Kashmir recorded a rainfall and snowfall deficit of about 75 to 80 percent," Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar, told UNI.
This year saw only 25 to 30 percent of the usual precipitation. The unusually dry conditions, coupled with the...