Two girls were killed in rain-related incidents as heavy downpour lashed various parts of the region on Wednesday, causing a landslide on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway that led to its closure.
A thick cover of a cloud benighted the region that witnessed rain in the early hours of Tuesday, bringing down the temperature by over 3 degrees Celsius, they said.
A 13-year-old girl sustained critical injuries as she was struck by lightning in the Manwal area of Udhampur district. She succumbed to injuries in a hospital on Tuesday night, officials said.
In another incident, an 18-year old girl, who had gone to collect firewood from the forest in the Charala area in the Doda district, died after a tree fell on her due to high-velocity wind.
According to officials, a few houses in the Jammu region and power lines in Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi, and Rajouri districts suffered damage after trees fell on them. However, all power lines have been restored.
Banihal in Ramban district and Bhaderwah in Doda district saw a drop of 11 degrees in temperature, Batote saw a drop of 7 degrees, and Kathua district witnessed a drop of 6 degrees in its temperature.
Katra in Reasi witnessed a fall of 4 degrees, the officials said.
The landslide at Samroli resulted in a blockade of the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
