Rains leave trail of deaths in Guntur district

Guntur: Heavy rains accompanied by gales and lightning created havoc  in Guntur district on Tuesday resulting in the death of six persons at different places. Two buffaloes were also killed as they were struck by lightning. As power supply was disrupted, the city plunged into darkness for several hours in the evening. 

Merugu Maraiah (25) and Merugu Gopichand (12) died on the spot when they were struck by lightning while they were walking at Neeleswaram village under Achampet Mandal. In another incident, M Venkata Rao (50) and M Madhavi (35) died on the spot as they were struck by lightning while they were taking shelter under a tree at Pusulur village under Pedanandipadu Mandal in the district.

A 28- year old youth G Gopi died on the spot, when lightning struck him at Pedamakkena under Sattenapalli mandal. Similarly Vijendla Ratna Kumari (40) died on the spot struck by lightning when she was working in the agriculture field at Anantavarappadu village in Vatticherakuru mandal. She is survived by husband and two children. Two buffaloes died in Tullur when lightning struck them.

Due to rains accompanied by strong gales, many trees uprooted and fell on the roads. Chilli stocks in the Asia’s biggest Mirchi Yard partially soaked in the rain. As May 1 being a holiday to the Mirchi Yard, farmers did not bring new stocks to the yard for sale.  

Harvested crops chillies and maize kept in the agriculture fields (kallems) were damaged due to rains. Banana orchards were also damaged in Tenali division due to rain accompanied by gales. Speaking to The Hans India, joint collector Md Imtiaz Ahmed said: 

“Six persons and two buffaloes were killed due to lightning in Guntur district”. Guntur Mirchi Yard secretary M.Srinivasa Rao said: “There is no major loss to chilli stocks in the mirchi yard as the farmers did not bring chilli stock to the yard on Tuesday”