Srinagar, Aug 15: A cloudburst on Thursday triggered flash floods in north Kashmir while the lightning strike also claimed a life in south Kashmir.
A 16-year-old boy died while two others were injured in a lightning strike incident at Damhal Hanjipora area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district today, officials said.
An official said that the lightning struck Banward Bala area in DH Pora following which the rescue operation was launched there.
“A boy died in the incident, while two others sustained injuries. Police and civil administration rushed to the spot shortly after the incident,” he said.
The deceased was identified as Mukhtar Ahmad Chouhan, son of Mohammad Hussain Chouhan, from Bangward Bala.
Bashir-ul-Hassan, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Noorabad, said that the lightning strike incident occurred between 6:00 and 6:30 AM in Bangward.
“Three children were near a tree with their livestock when the lightning struck. A boy, aged 15-16, lost his life, and two others were injured, one with minor injuries,” he said, adding that soon after the incident, the concerned magistrate reached the spot, and immediate relief was provided.
The SDM urged people to stay away from trees and riverbanks during bad weather conditions.
Meanwhile, a cloudburst in the Arin area of Bandipora district triggered a flash flood there, reports said.
Even as no loss of life or any major damage was reported in the incident, the flash floods however caused some damage to the crops in the area.
In Jammu region, Jammu and Katra recorded heavy rainfall during the last 24 hours.
As per the details, Jammu recorded a precipitation of 130.2 mm while the Katra station recorded a rainfall of 117.2 mm during the last 24 hours.
The fresh wet spell has brought mercury down across Jammu and Kashmir where below normal temperature was recorded today, thereby ending the heat wave conditions in the Valley as well.
As per the details, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 23.9 degree Celsius, which was 5.5 degree below normal while 8.3 mm rainfall was recorded at the station till 05:30 PM.
Qazigund recorded a rainfall of 3.4 mm while the mercury at the station settled at 21.4 degree Celsius.
In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at 20.2 degree Celsius while at Kupwara, Kokernag and Gulmarg, the mercury settled at 25.0 degree Celsius, 21.1 degree Celsius and 17.4 degree Celsius respectively.
Below-normal temperatures were also recorded in Jammu division today with Jammu recording a maximum temperature of 32.4 degree Celsius.
Banihal recorded a maximum temperature of 23.1 degree Celsius while Batote, Katra and Bhaderwah recorded a maximum temperature of 23.7 degree Celsius, 28.0 degree Celsius and 23.6 degree Celsius respectively.
Intense showers occurred at many places in Kashmir today. In Baramulla town, strong winds and heavy rainfall damaged several properties. Independence Day celebrations were also impacted by the weather in this north Kashmir town.
Pertinently, the weatherman had predicted the possibility of intense showers for a brief period and heavy rainfall in Jammu division, which may lead to flash floods, landslides, mudslides and shooting stones at “vulnerable” places till August 20.
Director Meteorological Department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said that light to moderate rains and thundershowers would occur at many places of J&K till August 20. (With inputs from KNO)
