Unseasonal rains and thunderstorms caused the death of at least seven persons and extensive damage to horticulture crops at several places in the State on Saturday.
Four persons were struck dead by lightning in different parts of Guntur district. They were identified as Panditi Venkateswara Reddy (70), of Mutharasupalem, Ch. Venkata Kondaiah (30) of Upparapalem, Sk. Mastanbi of Karempudi and Gumma Chirraiah (55) of Uppparapalem.
Two persons were killed in separate incidents in Prakasam district. Sivaram Siva (30) was struck dead by lightning in Darsi, while 57-year-old Samson was killed when the branch of a tree, under which he was taking cover, fell on him during heavy rain at Peddavaram village near Kruchedu, police said.
In Pendurthi of Visakhapatnam district, a 35-year-old person was killed in a lightning strike.
He was identified as Eswar Rao. In another incident, two women suffered injuries as the roof of a mill collapsed on them.
A spell of heavy rain accompanied by gales lashed the Palnadu region.
Rains during the last three days destroyed horticulture crops in Anantapur district. The total loss is estimated to be ₹1.45 crore. Banana plantations in Raptadu Mandal were badly hit by the rains.
Horticulture deputy director B. Subbarayudu told The Hindu that 66 farmers have lost their crops in 61.45 hectares due to intermittent rain, which was 11% above normal.
Relief for Vizagites
Special Correspondent in Visakhapatnam writes:
Residents heaved a sigh of relief as a moderate downpour brought temperature down in the city in the evening.
The showers were accompanied by intense thunderstorm activity and the temperature dropped by at least two degrees C.
As per the IMD, thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds up to 40 to 50 kmph and lightning were likely to occur at isolated places in all the districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Flights diverted
Two flights were diverted due to the heavy thunderstorm activity. One flight from Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam, which was scheduled to land at 6.30 p.m., had to fly back to Hyderabad.
Aboard the flight were MP K. Haribabu, industrialist N. Sambasiva Rao, businessman K. Mallick and O. Naresh Kumar of AP Air Travellers Association.
The flight flew back to Hyderabad and returned to Visakhapatnam after 9 p.m. Another flight from Chennai to Visakhapatnam was diverted to Bhubaneswar, and according to the Airport Director G. Prakash Reddy, the flight was scheduled to return to Visakhapatnam later in the night.
