The Hindu : Front Page : Freak summer storm claims 10 lives

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 18, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Freak summer storm claims 10 lives

Special Correspondent

Normal life disrupted in four districts; vehicular traffic badly affected

HYDERABAD: A freak summer storm hit Nalgonda, Khammam, Guntur and Krishna districts on Wednesday resulting in at least ten deaths, plunging several important towns in darkness and disrupting normal life.

The storm killed five persons each in Nalgonda and Khammam districts. They included four persons of a marriage party who died when a roadside tree fell on the van in which they were travelling on the outskirts of Kodad town in the evening.

The marriage party was in its way to Suryapet from Huzurnagar when a huge tree fell on the van killing three persons--Vijaya (20), Anusa (7) and Uma (16)-- on the spot while Akula Krishna (60) succumbed to the injuries at hospital at Kodad. The driver is struggling for life. Another person was struck dead by lightning at Nimmikal village in Atmakur (S) mandal. Hundreds of bags of grain stored in the agriculture market yard at Suryapet were soaked in water.

Movement of vehicular traffic on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada National Highway was badly affected due to collapse of many trees on the road following rain and strongly gales.

In Khammam district, thunderbolts claimed three lives, while two others died in house collapse as heavy rain accompanied by strong gales left a trail of destruction. Two poultry farm workers-- Hanumantha Rao (55) and Sankar Rao (45)-- died as the roof of a shed in which they were living collapsed in the impact of strong winds in Rayapatnam village of Madira mandal. Many hutments were destroyed in the village.

Chinta Malamma (50), a farm worker of Anantanagaram village in Nelakondapally mandal, was killed by a thunderbolt while her husband and another person were injured. Tejavath Poornamma (28) of Tirumalayapuram village in the same mandal and Mallikarjun (28), a shepherd of Madapuram village in Mudikonda mandal were killed by lightning.

Hailstorms resulted in heavy loss for mango farmers in Sathupally, Aswaraopet, Vemsoor and Koosumanchi mandals.

Giant trees were uprooted by the winds disrupting vehicular movement on Yellandu-Khammam road and Bhadrachalam-Chintur road. It affected power supply in Khammam, Sathupally, Bhadrachalam and Kothagudem besides many other towns.

An AP Transco official said power was switched off at many places before the storm turned violent to prevent electrocution.

Meanwhile, heat wave conditions prevailed with Medak recording the highest temperature of 46 degrees C for the second consecutive day. Mercury soared in Telangana as dry winds from north continued to blow across the region. Under the impact of the upper air circulation, there was isolated rain in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. Chittoor, Narsipatnam and Puttur recorded a rainfall of 3 cm each , Tirupati 2 cm and Salur one cm.

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