Six people died across Telangana on Thursday as heavy rains wreaked havoc in the state. The rains also resulted in a crop loss worth an estimated Rs 100 crore, and left Hyderabad city completely out of gear.
Two kids – 11-year-old Lokesh from Ibrahimpatnam and 7-year-old Akhil from Karmanghat – died after they were struck by lightning bolts.
Although the unseasonal rains provided relief to people from the scorching heat, it did affect normal life and caused widespread damage to crops. Several trees and electrical poles were uprooted due to the thunderstorm.
Telangana Energy Minister Jagdish Reddy said they received reports of 1,250 electricity poles being damaged due to strong winds, leading to power disruptions in 200-300 localities.
The authorities have opened two control rooms in Hyderabad and Warangal and are making efforts to restore electricity supply in the affected areas.
Telangana Excise Minister T Padma Rao, who visited some areas in Hyderabad, told reporters that the GHMC received reports of tree falling from 45 spots in the city. There were also complaints of major waterlogging at 25 spots.
To clear the traffic, the city traffic police took to the task of clearing the trees and opening the sewers to drain the water on roads.
The heavy rains damaged mango, paddy, maize and other crops. Several cattle perished due to lightning. The unseasonal rains also disrupted electricity supply in towns and villages.
According to Times of India, 300 quintals of paddy was damaged in Jammikunta market in Karimnagar. Ten thousand bags of red chilli and turmeric were damaged at Enumamula agricultural market, after they were exposed to rain. A crop loss of Rs 100 crore was estimated.
According to the Met office, the rains were triggered by cyclonic circulation over north Odisha and another cyclonic circulation over West Vidarbha. The highest maximum temperature in the state was recorded at Adilabad and Nizamabad at 43 degree Celsius. The department has issued a warning that thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds are likely to occur at isolated places in all the districts of Telangana for the next two days.
(This story has been published in an arrangement with The News Minute.)
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