Srinagar: Two teenage boys were killed and two others injured after lightning struck them in Gawran Nard area of Anantnag district on Thursday, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Faizan Ahmad, 18, and Bilal Ahmad Battana, 16.
Two other teenagers, identified as Sajad Ahmad Battana, 15, and Shareef Ahmad Battana, sustained injuries in the incident. They were shifted to a Primary Health Centre in the Larnoo area for treatment.
The incident comes as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rain and thunderstorms across Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours, with isolated thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds likely at several places.
According to the latest weather bulletin issued by the Meteorological Centre, Srinagar, isolated thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30–40 kmph are expected in the Kashmir division on August 14. Similar conditions are likely on several days during the extended forecast period.
For the Jammu division, the weather office has warned of isolated heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds, with the possibility of landslides, mudslides, flash floods and shooting stones at vulnerable places.
The weather office said isolated light to moderate rain was recorded across J&K during the past 24 hours. Kulgam AWS recorded the highest rainfall of 16 mm, while Gulmarg received 1 mm of rainfall.
The latest weather conditions follow a notably wet July for the Union Territory. According to rainfall data compiled by an independent weather forecaster, J&K recorded 259.7 mm of rainfall in July against the normal 192.6 mm, resulting in a 35 per cent surplus.
The July rainfall marked a significant reversal after eight consecutive months of below-normal precipitation.
Most districts in the Kashmir Valley recorded surplus rainfall during July, with Baramulla recording the highest surplus at 165 per cent, followed by Ganderbal at 110 per cent and Pulwama at 108 per cent. Srinagar and Anantnag recorded a 71 per cent surplus each, while Kulgam recorded 51 per cent.
In the Jammu region, Ramban recorded a 125 per cent surplus, followed by Udhampur at 108 per cent, Samba at 91 per cent and Rajouri at 88 per cent.
However, rainfall remained deficient in some districts. Shopian recorded a 40 per cent deficit, while Kathua and Kishtwar recorded deficits of 25 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively.
The IMD has forecast generally cloudy conditions with light rain or thunderstorms in Srinagar and Jammu on Friday. Temperatures in Srinagar are expected to remain around 33°C maximum and 20°C minimum, while Jammu may record around 35°C maximum and 26°C minimum.
With thunderstorms and lightning forecast to continue, the latest incident in Anantnag highlights the risks associated with outdoor exposure during severe weather, particularly in open and vulnerable areas.
