Srinagar, July 26 - A fierce windstorm battered parts of north Kashmir Sunday evening leaving a woman dead and over 40 people injured apart from damaging hundreds of houses, shops and cowsheds, officials said.

Shamima, 28, died when a tree fell on her in Handwara town as high velocity wind wreaked havoc in the area, said a police officer.

Police and civil officials said over 800 houses, shops, other business establishments and cowsheds were damaged as shattered roofs, uprooted and split trees dotted the rural neighbourhood in north Kashmir, around 100 km from here.

'The injured were admitted in the Handwara town hospital and some have been shifted to Srinagar for specialised treatment,' the police officer said.

Rafiq Ahmad, a 32-year-old resident of Handwara, said, 'It all happened in a matter of a few minutes. It was like a hurricane hitting the town.'

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will visit the town Monday.