Lightning strikes kill 3 in Srikakulam

VISAKHAPATNAM: Three people and seven sheep died upon being struck by lightning , which was accompanied by thunderstorms and rains, in north coastal Andhra Pradesh on Friday.

According to sources, the deceased were identified as Salapu Sriramulu (60), Senapati Achyutha Rao (16)—both from Gitanapalli village of Vangara mandal in Srikakulam district— while Vaddapu Sankara Rao (40), from Sriharipuram village of same mandal.

Seven sheep were also killed in these lightning strikes in Regidi mandal.

Cyclone Warning Centre (CWC), Visakhapatnam, in its weather bulletin, stated that moderate to severe thunderstorms affected Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, Prakasam , Kadapa and Chittoor districts on Friday evening.

Therlam in Vizianagaram district received the highest rainfall in at 40mm while Ravikamatam in Visakhapatnam district received 30mm of rainfall. Srikakulam’s Hiramandalam received 37mm of rainfall till Friday evening. “The thunderstorms were accompanied strong gusty winds reaching 45kmph and moderate to heavy rains in isolated places,” CWC officials said.

The sudden change in weather conditions has brought people some respite from scorching heat, with the maximum temperature touching 45 degree Celsius across the state for the past week, a senior IMD official told TOI.

While these maximum temperatures would continue at some places during the day, thunderstorm activity will be observed in the afternoon hours for next few days, the IMD official added.

The state government’s Disaster Management Authority asked local bodies, including municipal corporations, to take all precautionary steps to protect from sun strokes