The government has announced ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each, including Rs.50,000 under Apathbandhu, to the families of 18 persons who lost their lives in the unseasonal heavy rains and hailstorm which occurred during the last two days.
Of this amount, Rs.1.5 lakh will be paid immediately to the families of the deceased. Chief Minister N.Kiran Kumar Reddy took this decision after a meeting to review the situation in the districts lashed by heavy rains with the Revenue, Agriculture and Municipal Administration and Urban Development Ministers and higher officials here on Monday. He will visit the affected areas in Adilabad and Karimnagar districts on Tuesday and meet those who suffered losses and the families of the deceased persons.
He directed the Chief Secretary to hold a video conference with the District Collectors of the affected districts on Tuesday. Mr. Reddy asked them to also complete enumeration of damaged crops and property and submit reports within a week to ten days for assessment of loss due to hailstorm in all the affected districts across the State.
Agricultural crops in 12 districts, besides horticultural crops in eight districts, were damaged. The meeting decided in principle to go in for market intervention and purchase the soaked and discoloured chillies, turmeric, cotton and Bengal gram lying in the market yards.
Damaged houses
Revenue Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy said that of the 18 persons who died, 13 were killed by lightning. According to preliminary estimates, agriculture and horticulture crops in an extent of 2.47 lakh hectares were damaged and 1,149 houses either fully or partially destroyed.
The compensation for the damaged houses would be given as per guidelines and houses would be constructed for the victims under the Indira Awas Yojana, he said.
