| 2 killed, 4 injured in hailstorm | | Standing crops, trees damaged | | Early Times Report
KATHUA, Oct 14: Two youths were killed and four others critically wounded Wednesday when a tree fell on them due to strong winds during an army recruitment rally in Pathankote here. The youths had come to take part in the recruitment rally of a battalion of Territorial Army (TA) in Madhopur area, a Defence spokesman said. The youths were waiting for their turn in a shed when a tree fell down on it after strong winds lashed the area. Two youths died on the spot while four others were injured, the spokesman said. The injured persons were hospitalised. One of the deceased belonged to Himachal Pradesh and the other to Kathua district, said the spokesman, adding that the recruitment rally was later cancelled. Meanwhile, heavy rains and hailstorm damaged standing paddy crops, vegetables and trees in Kathua and adjoining areas of the state. The farmers suffered heavy loss in the hailstorm as the paddy, which was about to be harvested, was damaged. Preliminary reports estimated the loss in crores of rupees as at various places fruit bearing and non-fruit bearing trees were uprooted. Power supply was disrupted in the region due to snapping of high tension lines. |
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