Lightning claims 4 lives in Haryana, heavy snowfall in Shimla

Chandigarh, Feb 11 (UNI) Even as thundershowers accompanied by high velocity winds lashed the North West region, lightning struck at village Lamba Dhani near Rattia town in Fatehabad district of Haryana claiming the lives of four children and injuring one.

An official report from Fatehabad said that four of the victims were sleeping in a room when lightning struck on their house, as a result the roof collapsed, killing three of the children and injuring another. Three of the deceased, Mithhoo (8), Sunita (12) and Paramjit (14), belonged to a farm labourers family. The injured was identified as Amarjit, elder brother of the deceased children, The fourth victim Bahadur (13), son of a farmer died after being struck by lightning outside his house in the same village. So far five lives have been claimed due to lightning in Haryana.

Meanwhile the Capital Tourist Resort of Shimla recorded one foot snow, much to the delight of the tourists. The higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh also reported heavy snowfall, while in the plains of Punjab and Haryana, moderate to heavy rains continued for the second successive day today.

Winds at the speed of 45 km an hour swept across the North West plains, affecting power supply at several places. Though the rain was considered good for the wheat crop, but Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) experts have warned that any further rain, accompanied by high velocity winds could cause damage to the early varieties of the crop.

Night temperatures at several places in the region plummeted, with Shimla registering 0.6 degrees celsius. In the Union Territory of Chandigarh, the minimum went down to 10.0 degrees from 15.0 degrees Celsius recorded yesterday.

The weather office has predicted moderate to heavy rain or snow at many places in Himachal Pradesh and moderate to heavy rain or thundershowers at most places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours. Hailstorm or thundersquall with speed exceeding 45 km per hour is also likely to occur at isolated places in the area during the period.

The tribal districts of Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur and Pangi valley and Bharmour area in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh had another spell of heavy snowfall plummeting the temperature in the tribal belt. Several places in Mandi, Kullu, Kangra and Sirmour district also reported snowfall.

The famous tourist resorts of Kurfi (Eds here picking up from para one of Ch6 'WEATHER NORTHWEST').

UNI