Image
In a freak instance of multiple lightning-strikes, 19 people were killed in five Andhra Pradesh districts on Sunday, even as women cricket teams of Andhra Pradesh and Tripura had a narrow squeak in Guntur where a fire-bolt struck a tree next to the ground they were having a practice match. This is the first time in the state's recent history that so many people have been killed by lightning on a single day.

Nellore district bore the brunt of nature's fury with six deaths, followed by Prakasam and Krishna with four each. Three deaths were reported from Guntur and two from East Godavari as the southwest monsoon, which had been playing truant so far, turned vigorous on Sunday because of low pressure, bringing heavy rains. The downpour was accompanied by lightning and caught people working in the farms unawares.

The women cricketers had a close call when a bolt hit a palm tree next to the Andhra Cricket Association's stadium cricket at Perecherla in Guntur district. The teams were playing a practice match when light rain began falling. While the umpires wanted to call off the match, the players apparently insisted on playing another over. But the weather suddenly turned worse, and even as the cricketers ran for cover, the lightning struck. ACA authorities at the ground quickly took the players inside a safe building.

Guntur District Cricket Association official Seethapathi said an inter-state women's cricket tournament has been in progress at the stadium from September 20. "It was a miraculous escape for our players as well as the staff," Seethapathi told TOI.

In Prakasam, two women working in fields died after a thunderbolt hit them in Ganugapenta village. A borewell mechanic, Satish (24) died when lightning struck him in the fields at Vemulakota village.

In separate incidents in Nellore, two agriculture labourers were charred to death by lightning. While U Peddaiah (50) was killed at Koruvaripalem village, V Nageswara Rao (45) died at North Kondayapalem village.

Then, a father and son were struck at Godavarthi village in the same district, both fishermen.

In Guntur, an agriculture labourer was killed at Dondapadu village and four others suffered burn injuries. They were rushed to a government hospital. Sivarambabu (40) was killed by lightning in Vaddamanu village in the district. Similarly, two people were killed at Konapurajuparava village in Krishna district.

The state government has announced ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakhs to each of the victims.