MeT predicts more rains till tomorrow evening

SRINAGAR — As the rains lashed Valley today, the local Meteorological (MeT) department here predicted more rains till Thursday evening.

Deputy Director MeT, Mukhtar Ahmad said that the rains would continue to lash the Valley till Thursday evening. “There is possibility of more light rains till Thursday evening as per the prediction,” he said.

He added that weather would remain mostly cloudy tomorrow, saying that weather conditions would improve across the Valley from Friday morning.

Ahmad added that there was no significant weather prediction till March 19, 2019 evening.

Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Jammu highway remained closed in view of the prevailing weather conditions. Officials said that the traffic was not allowed to ply from Jammu towards Srinagar.

The officials had stated that traffic movement will be allowed on March 13 on Jammu-Srinagar NHW-44 subject to fair weather and road condition from Jammu towards Srinagar. “LMVs from (Nagrota) Jammu from 0700 hrs to 1200 hrs from (Jakheni) Udhampur 0800 hrs to 1300 hrs, thereafter HMVs shall be allowed,” they had said. However, the highway was closed in view of fresh rainfall.

Meanwhile, the closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway for the past few days has resulted in acute shortage of essentials in Handwara township.

The prices on day to day items in the town have skyrocketted with administration failing to control the illegal profiteering, locals said, adding that the prices of many essentials including mutton, beef, vegetables and fruits have gone through the roof.

Even though the administration had constituted special market-checking squads to prevent over-pricing of commodities, the prices of essential commodities continue to skyrocket during the past week.

Being a meat-consuming State, beef is being sold in retail at Rs 250/kg and chicken at Rs 170/kg, locals rued.