Team News Riveting
Poonch, April 20
Four soldiers reportedly died on Thursday after lightning struck an army vehicle bursting it into flames in Mendhar area of Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to official sources, the vehicle was moving on the highway between Bhimber Gali and Bhata Dhurian in Mendhar sub division of Poonch district. After lightning, the vehicle was converted into flames giving no rooms for the jawans to evacuate.
The number of jawans travelling in the ill-fated vehicle could not be known. Sources said bodies of four soldiers had been discovered. They were charred beyond recognition, sources said.
Preliminary reports suggested that blast took place after the lightning struck the vehicle. Senior officers of Indian Army and police have rushed to the spot, which is about 90 km from Poonch, to investigate the matter.
The valley had been receiving unprecedent rains as normal life remained disrupted for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday. The higher reaches experienced fresh snowfall. The meteorological department has predicted inclement weather to continue during the next 48 hours in the region, officials said.
