RAWALPINDI, Oct 19: An 18-year-old man was killed after being struck by lightning near Mareer Chowk during rain on Thursday.

Police said Sohail Masih, a sweeper at a nearby restaurant, was standing under a tree when he was hit by lightning and sustained critical burns to his chest.

A witness said the victim was shifted to District Headquarters Hospital where he died.

Meanwhile, intermittent rains accompanied by hailstorms, thunderstorms and lighting on Thursday afternoon, brought the mercury down in the twin-cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The rain started at around 2:00 pm in the twin cities and its suburbs and continued till 8:15 pm. Rawalpindi recorded 34mm rains while the capital received 8mm rain.—Staff Reporter