2 GIRLS AMONG THREE DEAD IN RAIN-RELATED INCIDENTS IN JAMMU

JAMMU/SRINAGAR/DHARAMSHALA: Two girls were among three persons reported dead in rain-related incidents in Jammu region while the traffic on Jammu-srinagar national highway was restored following brief disruption on Wednesday.

Intermittent mild rains lashed parts of Jammu and Kashmir for the second consecutive day, bringing relief from the heatwave which was prevalent in some parts of the UT.

A 13-year-old girl succumbed to injuries sustained during a lightning strike in Manwal area of Udhampur. In another incident, an 18-year-old girl, who had gone to collect firewood in Doda, died after a tree fell on her due to high-velocity winds. A CRPF man, Mohammad Rouf of Sari Latti area in Udhampur, died after being hit by a boulder in Samroli area. Damin Sheikh, 12, was washed away in Pulsat river in Poonch on Tuesday evening.

“Widespread rains and thunderstorm in Jammu and Kashmir brought the mercury down. Overall, the weather will remain erratic till Thursday due to a western disturbance,” said MET officials.

Hailstorm batters crops in Himachal

The spell of hailstorm on Tuesday in Himachal Pradesh’s rural areas has battered various vegetables and fruit crops, hampering the income prospects of scores of farmers. Hailstorm and squall had hit Shimla, Kullu and Sirmaur districts for about an hour while low-lying hills experienced heavy rainfall.