Srinagar: The local weather department on Thursday forecast heavy rains in plains and snowfall in higher reaches of Kashmir Valley during the next three days. The forecast has triggered panic as heavy rains last year in March had swollen most water bodies in the Valley causing widespread water logging in Srinagar.

"Valley has always witnessed maximum precipitation in the month of March," Sonam Lotus, director of the local MET office said here. "There is nothing alarming about the forecast. We are expecting rains during the next three days beginning Friday and these could be heavy at some places."