Heavy rains lash Andhra Pradesh, five killed

Five persons were killed while crops in over 20,000 hectares were severely damaged due to heavy rains and hailstorms in several districts of Andhra Pradesh since last night.

Lightning strike claimed three lives in Nizamabad district, while two persons died of electrocution following heavy rains in Karimnagar and Warangal districts, state Disaster Management Commissioner T Radha said today.

Karimnagar district received 41.6 mm of rainfall, Adilabad 31.1 mm, Nizamabad 26 mm, Nalgonda 18.3 mm and Medak 14.1 mm of rainfall, while the average rainfall recorded in the state was 7.8 mm, he said.

Commercial crops like cotton, maize, sunflower and jowar suffered extensive damage due to unseasonal rain.

"In all, standing crops in 20,270 hectares in Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad and Medak districts were badly damaged with Karimnagar district alone suffering damages in 10,121 ha," the Disaster Management Commissioner added.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was camping in New Delhi, directed Chief Secretary Minnie Mathew over phone to immediately send special teams to the affected districts to assess the extent of loss.

He also directed the respective district Collectors to provide necessary relief to affected farmers and villagers, a press release from the CM's Office said.