Srinagar: Five youths were killed and two others were injured as lighting struck border districts of Baramulla and Kupwara in north Kashmir, officials said on Saturday.
Basit Ahmad (19) and twin brothers - Naser Ahmad and Munir Ahmad (20) - died on the spot when lighting struck Bayan Beghak near Garkote, 140 kms from here, in Baramulla district last evening, they said.
Confirming the death of the trio in the natural calamity, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Uri, Manzoor Ahmad Qadiri said the authorities are recommending their cases for relief to the
Baramulla Deputy Commissioner.
Torrential rains and hailstorm which lashed parts of Uri sector yesterday has also caused havoc to the crops and orchards besides, blocking several routes, he said.
The state government has constituted a committee
comprising officials of revenue and other experts to assess
the damage caused to the paddy, horticulture crops and
vegetables after a three-member ministerial team visited the
affected areas yesterday.
The committee has been asked to submit report to the
government within a week.
The rains also triggered landslides on Uri-Muzaffarabad
road between Bandi to NS Bridge blocking the highway, he
said.
In a separate incident, two girls died and two others were
injured in Kupwara district when lightning struck them
yesterday, police said today.
The mishap occurred when the girls were working in their
field at Mawar in Handawara. Safeena died on the spot, while
the injured were admitted to sub-district hospital at
Handwara, 90 kms from here, where another girl Nighat
succumbed.
The other injured have been identified as Shugufta and
Mohmmd Ashraf all resident of Lach-mawar.
PTI
