VIJAYAWADA: At least 14 persons were killed and two others injured on Tuesday as over 4000 bolts of lightning and thunderstorms struck Andhra Pradesh. The
Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (
APSDMA) confirmed that 41025 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes took place across 11 districts on Tuesday from 07.30am to 11.40pm as per the data available with Earth Networks.
The APSDMA, which predicted severe lightning activity in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts, issued thunderstorm alerts from early hours of Tuesday and later lightning continued in West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Nellore, Prakasam, and Kadapa.
Lightning had an impact on 443 mandals in 11 districts, with 13 falling victims to the thunderbolt strike and one dying due to the collapse of a tree.
The APSDMA says that they are closely monitoring the sudden changes in temperatures and weather and warned 20.14 lakh mobile phone subscribers on Tuesday about the severe lightning and thunderbolts.
Banana, mango, paddy corps got damaged in thousands of acres across Krishna, Guntur and Godavari districts with the untimely rains and the state government directed district collectors to swing into action to help farmers get compensation.
Lightning had an impact on 443 mandals in 11 districts.