Srinagar, Feb 16: While weather department forecast dry and cloudy spell ahead, the Srinagar-Jammu highway, after remaining open for SRTC vehicles Thursday, will remain closed on Friday.
Director Meteorological Department Srinagar, Sonam Lotus, told Greater Kashmir that there was no possibility of major snowfall and weather shall remain dry and cloudy in the coming week. “Although the upper region of Pahalgam received a light snowfall today but there is no possibility of more snowfall in the upcoming week. Weather has improved to a great extent. Isolated places may tonight receive light snowfall but there is no forecast of any heavy snowfall,” he said.
Lotus said Western Disturbances had not yet weakened but valley would face a dry and cloudy spell. “On February 22 and 23, there is possibility of rain in lower reaches and snowfall in upper reaches; till then weather will be wholly cloudy,” he said.
Meanwhile, the summer capital recorded maximum temperature of 6.6 and minimum of minus 0.3 degrees Celsius. Qazigund – gateway town to Kashmir – recorded a maximum of 4.6 and minimum of minus 5.0 degrees Celsius and a rainfall measuring 1.2 centimeters. The north Kashmir border town of Kupwara recorded a maximum of 7.2 and minimum of minus 3.1 degrees Celsius. The south Kashmir’s tourist resort of Pahalgam recorded 3.2 and minus 7.0 degrees Celsius and rainfall of 3 centimeters with Kokernag receiving maximum of 5.0 and minimum of minus 6.2 degrees Celsius.
North Kashmir’s tourist resort of Gulmarg remained the coldest place in the valley recording a maximum of minus 1.1 and minimum of minus 13.2 degrees Celsius, said Iqbal Singh, an official spokesperson of Met Department. Talking to Greater Kashmir, Inspector General Traffic, Hemant Kumar Lohia said there would be no passenger traffic on Srinagar-Jammu highway on Friday. “No passenger traffic would ply either from Jammu or Srinagar on Friday. First we have to clear the stranded vehicles and there is no possibility of more passenger traffic on the road. We are trying our best to clear the stranded trucks on the road,” he said.
Police officials told PTI that only State-run SRTC buses carrying stranded passengers from Jammu and Kashmir were allowed to ply on the arterial road. “Over 600 stranded vehicles have crossed into the Kashmir Valley and over 300 towards Jammu since last night,” police officials said.
Meanwhile, air traffic at Srinagar Airport remained normal with all flights operating, Public Relations Officer Muhammad Shafi told Greater Kashmir.

AVALANCHE DAMAGES SHRINE, RESERVOIR:
An avalanche in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district damaged a shrine and a water supply reservoir today, police said. However, no injury or loss of life was reported.
The avalanche hit Bugmud-Batnoor village near Awantipora in Pulwama. Earlier this week, authorities had issued a warning about avalanche in hilly areas following fresh snowfall across the Valley.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 IST