Thundershowers Strikes Andhra Pradesh, Shepherd and 25 Sheep Dead
Pre-monsoon showers bring relief but also tragedy, with fatalities and livestock losses reported in Nandyal district
VISAKHAPATNAM / KURNOOL: Thundershowers accompanied by lightning lashed parts of Andhra Pradesh, killing a shepherd, 25 sheep and some livestock in Nandyal district.
Parts of Parvathipuram Manyam, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts also witnessed thunderstorms on Saturday.
The showers brought down temperatures by two to three degrees Celsius. Sky remained overcast from afternoon onwards in north Andhra districts, giving respite from heat conditions.
Reports from Kurnool said Dhone Sekhar of Chuindukuru village in Gadivernula mandal of Nandyal district died on the spot when he was struck by lightning on Friday night. Around 25 sheep and three bulls also perished in the incident.
Temperature dropped all over the state by two to three degrees Celsius. This condition may prevail for another two days.
As per weatherman, these showers are much needed, as the entire southern peninsula is facing a rain deficit of 72 per cent from March 1 to April 18.
The rain is being attributed to a trough stretching from Marathwada to Tamil Nadu across interior Karnataka. This weather system is expected to further trigger rain and thunderstorms across the region, with a particular focus on interior Karnataka, Kerala, parts of Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Telangana received good rainfall on Saturday. More rains are expected during the next 48 hours.
Weather report says light to very light rain is expected over Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts from April 21 to April 24.