Fresh snowfall in Gulmarg on Sunday signalled the onset of Chillai-Kalan, the harshest 40-day winter period in Kashmir beginning December 21. The severe winter phase, locally known as Chillai-Kalan, brings subzero temperatures across the Himalayan region. During this period, temperatures can plunge to as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit), triggering intense cold waves. Water bodies, including the world-famous Dal Lake, often freeze, while water supply lines in several parts of the valley face disruption.