Poonch, November 5: Around 40 sheep and goats were killed after a lightning strike hit the Sangar Dhoke area near Soliyan in Poonch district late Tuesday night, officials said.
According to reports, the lightning caused extensive damage to livestock belonging to Khalid Hussain, a resident of Hadi Bari Baik, from the Bakarwal community. The incident occurred amid heavy rainfall and thunderstorm activity in the region.
Local residents and officials rushed to the spot on Wednesday morning after learning about the tragedy. The loss has dealt a severe blow to the affected family, for whom livestock is the main source of livelihood.
Authorities from the Animal Husbandry Department and local administration have taken cognizance of the incident and initiated an assessment to estimate the total loss.
Officials assured that appropriate compensation and relief measures would be provided as per government norms once the assessment is completed.
Frequent lightning strikes have been reported across the hilly districts of Jammu and Kashmir in recent weeks, raising concern among shepherds and nomadic families who migrate to higher reaches for grazing during seasonal movements. (Agencies)
