Cloudbursts leave six dead in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: The death toll in the series of cloudbursts that struck on both Baltal and Pahalgam routes of the Amarnath Yatra went up to six, following the recovery of bodies of two missing persons today.

The bodies of 32-year-old Rukhsana and her 4-year-old son Aquib were recovered today from Kullan area on Srinagar-Leh road where a cloudburst took place on Thursday evening, a police officer said.

Four other persons, including 15-year-old Iqra Majid and 10-year-old Momin Ahmad Baba, both residents of village Kullan in Ganderbal district, were killed in the incident.

One body, recovered from River Sindh, has not been identified so far, the officer said.

A porter was also killed after being struck by lightning in Panjtarni area along the traditional Pahalgam route on Thursday night.

The deceased was identified as Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh, the officer said.