10 killed in Kashmir house collapse, 16 killed by lightning in MP

New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) Twenty-six people were killed throughout North and Central India as unseasonal heavy snowfall and rains lashed the region.

Ten people were killed and 20 wounded when about 60 houses and other structures collapsed due to heavy snowfall and rains in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, while 16 people were killed and nine injured after being struck by lightning in Madhya Pradesh.

In J&K, police spokesman said one Abdul Hamid was killed when a huge branch of a Chinar tree fell down due to heavy snowfall at Chandgam in south Kashmir district of Pulwama.

One Ghulam Mohammad Thakor was killed when he slipped down from the roof of his house while clearing snow at Kokernag in south Kashmir this morning.

One woman Wazira died when the roof of her house collapsed at in central Kashmir district of Badgam.

Two persons were killed when they were buried under landslides while one fell into a deep gorge at Penthal on the Kashmir highway.

About two feet of snowfall, coupled with no electricity, road connectivity, eatables and water, paralysed life in the Kashmir valley. Srinagar turned white after about one to two feet of fresh snowfall was recorded since yesterday. The upper reaches however, experienced about two feet to five feet of snowfall.

Tree and roof tops, roads, electric poles and playing fields were covered under a blanket of snow as people remained confined to their homes because of the chill outside.

In Kargil, the district administration ordered closure of all educational institutions following heavy snowfall.

The 300-km Jammu-Srinagar highway remained closed leading to shortage of essential commodities. All incoming and outgoing flights were cancelled due to bad weather.

Sixteen people were killed when lightning struck them in separate incidents in the past 24 hours in Madhya Pradesh even as unseasonal rainfall and hailstorm lashed the state's northern and north-eastern part causing heavy damage to crops.

Two women and three children of a family were killed after lightning struck them in Rewa, whereas four more people died in separate incidents there. In Sidhi, five people were killed and two injured.

One person was killed and one injured in Satna, while one person died and five were injured in Umaria. In Damoh, one person was injured.

The mercury rose in the national capital even as cold winds maintained a chill in the air.

Also, a predominantly overcast sky continued to throw up possibility of more showers.

The maximum temperature today rose to 23.7 Degrees from 21.3 Degree yesterday, yet cold Easterly winds maintained a slight chill in the air.

The maximum of 23.7 Degree was still six degrees below normal.

For the third consecutive day, the clouds continued to hover over the Delhi skyline. Traces of rainfall were recorded in some areas of Delhi. Weathermen forecast a few more spells of rain later tonight.

Dehradun was lashed with heavy hailstorm after more than 50 years.

In the North West region, higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh experienced heavy snowfall while widespread rains pounded Punjab and Haryana for the third day today, reviving cold climatic conditions.

The incessant snowfall and rain disrupted normal life in many areas of Himachal Pradesh, triggering landslides in mid and lower hills and affecting power supply and telecommunication services especially in the tribal areas. The rain is not considered beneficial for Rabi crops, particularly wheat crop, in Punjab and Haryana.

Shimla and its adjoining areas experienced snowfall in March for the first time in nine years. In 1998, the town had received 60 cm of snow on this day only.

A severe hailstorm, preceded and followed by rain, hit Chandigarh and its adjoining areas and busy roads in the city wore a white sheet due to large-sized hail balls. The hail soon melted.

The city, which was lashed by high velocity winds for the third day today, experienced moderate rain, plummeting the temperature Crops spread over thousands of hectares in many districts of Rajasthan were lost completely due to unseasonal rains over the past few days, mainly under the influence of western disturbance and cyclonic winds.

At least 14 children sustained burn injuries after lightning struck them yesterday in Pali district.

Pilani in Jhunjhunu district recorded the highest rain yesterday, registering 19.6 mm.

Light to moderate rains lashed Bihar, coupled with cold westerly winds, since yesterday, which led to a sharp drop in maximum temperature in Patna and other parts of the state.

Met office sources said with the onset of spring, people were ready to bid adieu to winter but the fresh spell of cold forced them to take out woollen clothes.

Sources in the state agriculture department said the untimely rains might harm the standing crops including pulses, mustard and mangoes.

UNI