Tragic incident: Girl killed as lightning strikes

MANSEHRA: A 12-year-old girl died while her parents and cousin were injured when lightning hit their house in Maqsoodabad Bafa village, some 15 kilometres from Mansehra, on Saturday evening. The house was partially damaged in the incident. Jehanzeb, the owner of the house, said he, his wife, their three children and his nephew were fast asleep when a thunderstorm hit the area.  “Our house was hit by lightning,” he said. “The front wall and part of the roof collapsed and we were buried under the rubble.” According to Jehanzeb, his 12-year-old daughter Gulnaz died on the spot while he, his wife Gulshan Bibi and nephew Gulfraz were injured. “However, my other two children escape unhurt,” he said.  Jehanzeb said lightning also struck a room used as cattle pen, killing a buffalo and two goats.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2015.