Khyber: At least 18 female students were injured when a sudden lightning strike hit a religious seminary in the Painda Chena area of Tirah Valley, officials from Rescue 1122 said on Thursday.

The injured girls, aged between 12 and 16, were inside the seminary when the lightning struck unexpectedly.

Rescue teams and ambulances were dispatched immediately after the control room received the alert, following instructions from District Emergency Officer Engineer Shariq Riaz Khattak. 

Rescue personnel shifted all the injured students to ambulances, provided first aid at the scene, and later transported them to Dogra Hospital.

Officials confirmed that all the injured girls are now in stable condition and out of danger.