Women cricket players at the Andhra Cricket Association cricket ground at Perecharla had a miraculous escape, after lightning struck a palm tree outside the ground on Sunday afternoon.
The friendly match between women teams of Andhra and Tripura was abandoned.
Seethapathi, member of ACA, who was present at the ground said, ``It started raining at 1.50 p.m. and the umpires called off the play. We heard a loud and thundering sound that left the players, umpires and the selectors, who were on the first floor of the building, scurrying for cover.
After some time, we realised that the lightning struck a palm tree just next the building and we could see the tree was in flames. We all came rushing out of the building and the women players ran to the buses.’’
The lightning struck a palm tree next to the club room abutting the ground. Sparks emanated from the tree and according to eyewitnesses account, the fire was raging for about 30 minutes even in pouring rain.
Parts of the district witnessed a heavy downpour since Sunday afternoon. On Saturday, lightning claimed three lives in Sattenapalli mandal.
