Lightning claims 6 lives

Srikakulam/ Vizianagaram: Six persons died -- four in Vizianagaram and two in Srikakulam districts -- due to lightning when heavy rains lashed several mandals in both the districts on Tuesday even as Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has warned of a possibility that sea will be rough near the shore and low-lying areas may experience sea surges intermittently till late Wednesday night.

The INCOIS has warned that along the coast of North Andhra, surge waves are likely with a duration of 15 to 18 seconds with a height of 1.5 metres to 2 metres. Sudden rainfall which occurred in Srikakulam provided respite from summer heat to the residents of the district on Tuesday. In the noon, Srikakulam city, rural, Rajam, Laveru, Ponduru, Palakonda, Veeragattam, Vangara and Regidi mandals experienced rain with high velocity winds and thunder bolts.

The INCOIS report warned fishermen and coastal population to be cautious as there is a possibility of surging of waves during the hightide. The report suggested that boats should not ply near to the coasts during this period as the coastal regions will experience rough weather. The boats may be anchored at a fair distance from each other, to avoid collision and damage. It also suggested that the water-based recreational activity at the coast be suspended during this period.

This apart, strong surface winds from Southwesterly direction with speed reaching 45 kmph to 50 kmph are likely along and off the coast. The report advised the fishermen against venturing into the sea. At Panasanandivada village in Veeragattam mandal in Srikakulam district N Durga Rao (42) died when lightning struck him. 

He was a native of Neyyilaveedhi in Palakonda town and as a profession, he used to cook food for auspicious programmes for his livelihood. Lightning struck him while he was going to the village. A woman, P Jayamma (50) of Khandyam village died when lightning struck her while she was returning from MGNREGS work.

In Vizianagaram, most of the mandals experienced heavy downpour on Tuesday. Four persons died, struck by lightning in villages in the district. Gajapathinagaram, Bondapalli, Vizianagaram, Denkada, Bhogapuram, Pusapatirega and other mandals received rains accompanied by gusty winds. The gales damaged mango, banana and other crops in these mandals. But the people felt relief with the breeze as the day temperature also has come down.

The sudden showers and lightnings claimed four lives in the district. D Ramulamma (50) and her granddaughter M Sravani (7) of Rajapulova village in Bhogapuram mandal were struck by lightning while they were coming from their agriculture land and were killed on the spot.

Another farmer R Gowri Naidu (24) of Rellivalasa village in Pusapatirega mandal was also killed. He went to rear the cattle in his farms. Lightning struck him in the fields. K Adinarayana, a farmer, was killed in Sundarada village of Terlam mandal of the district due to lightning.