Lightning strike kills two in Anantnag

Srinagar, Aug 13: Two persons were killed and two others injured in a lightning strike in South Kashmir’s Anantnag District on Thursday as rain lashed several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, with the Meteorological Centre predicting spells of heavy rain and thundershowers across the region between August 16 and 19.
An official said the lightning struck the Gawran Nard area of Anantnag district, killing Faizan Ahmad, 18, son of Mohammad Yaqoob Chard, of Gawran, and Bilal Ahmad Battana, 16, son of Nazir Ahmad, of Redwani Gawran.
Sajad Ahmad Battana, 15, son of Sai Battana, and Shareef Ahmad Battana, son of Jumma, both residents of Redwani Gawran, were injured in the incident and shifted to PHC Larnoo for treatment.
Meanwhile, rain and thundershowers were reported from several areas, including Budgam, Poonch, Rajouri, Shopian, Kulgam, Reasi, Udhampur and the Banihal-Ramban belt, besides parts of central and north Kashmir, the Meteorological Centre said.
The weather office said brief spells of intense rain were reported or were likely in Poonch, Rajouri, Budgam, Gulmarg and adjoining areas, Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, hilly areas of Ganderbal, Reasi, Ramban, Udhampur and Doda.
A cloudburst over the higher reaches of the Zojila area also led to the accumulation of debris and blockage of the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri (SSG) Road near Ranga Mode, disrupting traffic on the strategic route.
Teams of the Border Roads Organisation were mobilised to clear the debris and restore traffic, officials said. Authorities were monitoring the situation and advised commuters to exercise caution while travelling through the affected stretch.
The Meteorological Centre cautioned that intense showers could trigger localised flash floods, mudslides and landslides in hilly areas, besides shooting stones at vulnerable locations.
According to the forecast, another spell of rain and thundershowers is likely at many places in the Jammu division during the early morning and morning hours on August 14, followed by a brief spell at many places across J&K in the afternoon.
On August 15, light to moderate rain and thundershowers are likely at many places during late night and early morning hours, followed by another brief spell in the afternoon.
From August 16 to 19, several spells of light to moderate rain and thundershowers are expected at many places, with heavy rain or brief intense showers likely in a few districts during the early morning and afternoon hours.
The weather office said heavy rain or brief intense showers could occur in a few districts of the Jammu division and intense showers in one or two districts of the Kashmir Valley during the period.
Light rain and thundershowers are likely at scattered places between August 20 and 22, it said.
The Meteorological Centre advised people to remain cautious as torrential rain and brief intense showers may trigger flash floods, landslides, mudslides and waterlogging in low-lying areas.
Authorities and commuters have been advised to remain alert in vulnerable hilly areas, particularly along roads prone to landslides and shooting stones. (KNO)