Five persons were killed whilecrops in over 20,000 hectares were severely damaged due toheavy rains and hailstorms in several districts of AndhraPradesh since last night.
Lightning strike claimed three lives in Nizamabaddistrict, while two persons died of electrocution followingheavy rains in Karimnagar and Warangal districts, stateDisaster Management Commissioner T Radha said today.
Karimnagar district received 41.6 mm of rainfall,Adilabad 31.1 mm, Nizamabad 26 mm, Nalgonda 18.3 mm and Medak14.1 mm of rainfall, while the average rainfall recorded inthe state was 7.8 mm, he said.
Commercial crops like cotton, maize, sunflower andjowar suffered extensive damage due to unseasonal rain.
"In all, standing crops in 20,270 hectares inKarimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad and Medak districts were badlydamaged with Karimnagar district alone suffering damages in10,121 ha," the Disaster Management Commissioner added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who wascamping in New Delhi, directed Chief Secretary Minnie Mathewover phone to immediately send special teams to the affecteddistricts to assess the extent of loss.
He also directed the respective district Collectors toprovide necessary relief to affected farmers and villagers, apress release from the CM's Office said.