Fifteen persons were struck dead by lightning in four districts of the State. The highest number of deaths, nine, were reported from Guntur as a heavy cloudburst wrecked havoc in the district. Rainstorm accompanied by deafening thunder and lightning struck at 12.30 p.m., catching most people unawares.
Lightning struck at a farm at Suddapalli in Chebrolu mandal killing a woman and her daughter, Pacham Varalakshmi (45) and Adilakshmi (27), instantly. The women were working in a maize field when the lightning struck at 1 p.m.
A farm hand, Pallepu Lakshmi (50), was struck by lightning at Uppparapalem in Yadlapadu mandal, said MRO D. Yesubabu. In Amaravathi mandal, a 55-year old woman, Saripudi Lakshmi, died of a heart stroke caused by the deafening sound of thunder. Two fishermen were killed at Nimmagaddavaripalem. They were identified as Vetagiri Venkateswarulu (40) and Tholakoti Srinivas (42). Two persons were killed in Chilakaluripet mandal. They were identified as Addanki Parvathi (24) and a Bihari worker in a ginning mill at Ganapavaram, Hiralal Sahani (20), who was killed when he was trying to cover the cotton bags. A shepherd at Challakunta village in Gurazala mandal was also killed by lightning.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy directed the officials to pay ex gratia to the family members of those killed in lightning.
Toll two in Khammam
Khammam Staff Reporter adds: Two persons, including a boy, were killed after being struck by lightning in the district on Sunday. Sources said that Ch. Naveen Kumar, 11, was struck dead by lightning while playing at Sambaninagar here on Sunday evening. Two more boys fell unconscious under the impact of the lightning, sources added.
In another incident, Yerra Narsaiah, 50, a shepherd died at Tummalapalli village in Konijerla mandal in the evening when lightning struck the tree under which he was taking shelter with a herd of sheep amid a heavy downpour.
Meanwhile, heavy rain battered several parts of the district, including Khammam, on Sunday eveningCoal production was also affected by a heavy downpour in the opencast mines in the coal town of Kothagudem. Mango orchards suffered huge losses in Dammapeta and several other mandals due to the unseasonal rain.
Three die in Prakasam
Ongole Staff Reporter adds: Three persons, including a woman, were killed in three separate rain-related incidents in Prakasam district on Sunday.
Police said a 60-year-old farmer, Pulla Reddy, who was working in his field was caught unawares when rain accompanied by thunder and lightning lashed Kalamvaripalem village in Pangalur mandal. In another incident, a 42-year-old woman, Puvadamma, who was taking her cattle back home was charred to death following lightning in Jamalamadaka village, police said. In another incident in Ponalur mandal in Kandukur division, a 40-year-old shepherd, Narasimham, was killed when he struck by lightning in Ravulakollu village, police added.
Vijayawada Special Correspondent adds: Lightning claimed the life of a man while he was grazing his cattle in Angaluru village, Gudlavalleru mandal of Krishna district on Sunday. Joint Collector Gaurav Uppal confirmed that G.Venkateswara Rao, 45, was killed when he was hit by a lightning bolt. A few goats and a buffalo were also killed by the lightning.
