Lightning kills 2 women farm workers: Reports
VISAKHAPATNAM: Two women agricultural workers were killed by lightning in Parvathipuram district on Saturday. The victims, Varada Ramalakshmi, 50, wife of Appala Naidu, and Gorle Lakshmi, 50, wife of Jogi Naidu, were working in a field at Venkatapuram village under Palakonda mandal when lightning struck them. They died on the spot.
Meanwhile, a low-pressure area formed over the north Andaman Sea and adjoining areas under the influence of an upper-air cyclonic circulation on Saturday evening, prompting Srikakulam district authorities to issue a high alert over the possibility of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall from September 21.
According to IMD Amaravati, the system is very likely to move west-northwestwards and gradually intensify into a depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal on September 21 and a deep depression over the west-central Bay on September 22. It is likely to reach the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal near the south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coast around September 23 morning.
Srikakulam collector Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar said the district was likely to receive heavy to extremely heavy rainfall from September 21, with the system’s impact expected to intensify on September 22 and 23.
He urged people to remain vigilant over the next four days and directed fishermen not to venture into the sea until September 25, citing the possibility of winds gusting at 50-60 kmph along the coast.
A 24-hour disaster management control room has been set up at the Collectorate, while senior officers have been appointed as in-charges for 11 coastal mandals. Leave for district officials has been cancelled and night duties will begin from Monday, the collector said.
He also advised people to avoid immersing Ganesh idols in flowing canals and rivers and use government-approved immersion points.
Agriculture Minister K. Atchennaidu condoled the deaths and assured the families of government assistance. He directed officials to release relief as per government guidelines and urged people to follow weather advisories.
