Srinagar, Aug 13 (KNO): Two teenagers were killed and two others injured in a lightning strike in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Thursday as rain and thundershowers lashed several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, while the Meteorological Centre forecast more intense showers and heavy rain between August 16 and 19.
Officials told KNO that lightning struck the Gawran Nard area of Anantnag, killing Faizan Ahmad (18), son of Mohammad Yaqoob Chard of Gawran, and Bilal Ahmad Battana (16), son of Nazir Ahmad of Redwani Gawran.
Two others—Sajad Ahmad Battana (15) and Shareef Ahmad Battana—were injured and shifted to PHC Larnoo for treatment.
Meanwhile, rain and thundershowers were reported from several districts, including Budgam, Poonch, Rajouri, Shopian, Kulgam, Reasi, Udhampur and the Banihal-Ramban belt. The weather office said brief spells of intense rain were reported or likely in parts of Poonch, Rajouri, Budgam, Gulmarg, Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, Ganderbal, Reasi, Ramban, Udhampur and Doda.
A cloudburst over the higher reaches of Zojila triggered debris accumulation and blocked the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri (SSG) Road near Ranga Mode. Border Roads Organisation teams were deployed to clear the debris and restore traffic.
The MeT department warned that intense showers could trigger flash floods, landslides, mudslides and shooting stones at vulnerable locations. It forecast light to moderate rain and thundershowers at many places across J&K over the next week, with heavy rain or intense showers likely in some districts between August 16 and 19. (With inputs from KNO)
