Girl killed in Kashmir cloudburst

SRINAGAR: A 15-year-old girl was killed when cloudburst struck on the Srinagar-Leh road in Sonamarg area of Kashmir today.

Two houses were also damaged and several vehicles washed away.

"A cloudburst struck around 7.30 pm at Kullan and Gagangir villages in Sonamarg area, resulting in massive downpour," a police officer said.

"We have recovered the body of a girl Iqra Nazir," the officer said, adding rescue operations were on in the area.

Some foreigners from Spain who were staying in nearby locality have been safely evacuated.

There were landslides in Sonamarg area but army accommodated the civilians in transit camps.

On the Baltal Amarnath yatra route, a bridge caved in but there was no report of any casualty.

A team of engineers camping near Sonamarg for the Z-Morh tunnel, linking the Valley to Kargil, were also evacuated by the army.