No rains, snow for next 4 days: MeT

Srinagar, Jan 3 (KMW):  While the Valley has received heavy snowfall and is gripped in freezing cold, weathermen on Friday said weather is likely to remain dry for at least next four days.  However they said that the higher areas of Valley might receive snow fall. Meanwhile Srinagar-Jammu Highway was reopened on Friday after remaining closed for three days.

“Though weather will remain cold and cloudy, there would be no rainfall or snow in the Valley at least for the next four days,” Director Meteorological department, Sonam Lotus told.

The Metrological department has a mechanism to forecast weather for only 3-4 days. Pertinently, Kashmir Valley on Tuesday received this year’s major snowfall, ending nearly two months of dry spell. Since then Valley has been reeling under intense cold.

Meanwhile the Srinagar-Jammu Highway which was closed on Tuesday evening following heavy snowfall was reopened for one way traffic on Friday. Authorities regulated the vehicular movement on the highway allowing traffic from Jammu to Srinagar.

DSP traffic National Highway Muhktar Ahmad told that highway was reopened this morning after proper assessment. “All vehicles were allowed to move from Jammu to Srinagar. “408 passengers, 666 light /heavy goods vehicles crossed towards Srinagar till 5 pm”, adding that on Saturday the traffic will move from Srinagar to Jammu. He, however, said that the passengers must confirm the status of highway before leaving their station.

The highway was closed due to heavy snowfall in Jawahar tunnel, Ramban and Patnitop areas besides slippery road conditions on the stretch. “There was no fresh snowfall on highway Tuesday,” he added Passengers traveling from Srinagar to Jammu should reach Pantha Chowck by 1 pm.

Government official said that despite forecast for dry weather for next four days, the authorities will take precautions while allowing traffic on the highway. “Traffic on the highway will be allowed after assessing the visibility and road condition. People are requested to confirm about the traffic movement first before leaving the station.”