Lightning strikes kill four including a young couple in Kashmir

BUDGAM — Four persons including a young couple were killed in two different lightning strikes in Kashmir Valley on Saturday.

Two persons died in a lightning strike in the upper reaches of Khansahab in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, police said.

A police officer told the news agency KNT that an elderly lady identified as Taja Begum and another person Muhammad Sultan Chopan, both residents of Gurwaith Kalan hamlet were passing through a meadow at Sochalpathri Mujpathri, the upper area of Doodhpathri tourist spot, when suddenly it started raining. They were struck by lightning while rushing to a safer place.

A police party from Police Station Khansahab rushed to the spot despite inclement weather and shifted the bodies to the hospital for post-mortem.

In another lightning strike in Bujbagh village of the saffron town of Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, a young couple died. Police identified them as Hilal Ahmed (25) and his wife Rozy Jan (23).

After completing medico-legal formalities, police handed over the dead bodies to the family.