Kulgam, Aug 15: One person lost his life and two others were injured when lightning struck a tree in the Bangward village, a remote hamlet in Damhal-Hanjipora tehsil in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday, officials said.
Bashir ul Hassan, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Noorabad, said that the lightning struck early Thursday morning, targeting a tree under which three people had taken shelter in Bangward village.
“Unfortunately, one person lost his life, while two others sustained injuries,” he said, adding that of the injured, one suffered minor injuries, while the other required hospitalisation.
The SDM said the revenue team, acting under the directions of the Deputy Commissioner of Kulgam, visited the site and provided immediate relief. Further actions will be taken according to the norms of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), he added.
The deceased has been identified by locals and officials as 15-year-old Mukhtar Ahmad Chohan, son of Mohammad Hussain Chohan, a resident of Bangward Bala. The injured were identified as Rafaqat Hussain Chohan, son of Mohammad Hussain Chohan, and Sakeema Banoo, wife of Mohd Hussain Chohan. Two cows were also killed by the lightning strike at the scene.
As immediate relief, the affected family was provided with cash, a food kit, and some bedding. The case has been forwarded to higher authorities for further necessary action.
