JAGTIAL/KARIMNAGAR: Two farmers were charred to death in separate incidents while burning stubble in their fields in Jagtial and Karimnagar districts on Thursday.
Santha Adireddy (70) of Mutyampet village in Malyal mandal of Jagtial district was burnt alive when he set fire to paddy stubble. According to sources, Adireddy went to field along with his wife and workers to clean the fields for the ensuing kharif season. After setting fire to stubble, Adireddy asked his wife and workers to go home.
Later when he started burning the mango stubble, a fire engulfed the orchard. He tried to put off the fire but in the process the elderly man fell on the ground and was charred to death. Villagers, who noticed the fire, rushed to the place but it was too late as Adireddy was dead by then.
In another incident in Karimnagar district, a young farmer Shivaratri Kumara Swamy (34) while burning paddy stubble, was killed when fire engulfed him due to strong winds.
His sister, who was present in the fields, watched helplessly as her brother died. She made a vain bid to rescue him but she too suffered burns on her hand.
Meanwhile, seven houses were gutted and 11 more houses were damaged partially in a fire in Ramachandrudupeta village in Nandepeta mandal of Bhupalpally district.
According to reports reaching here, the incident happened when workers were burning stubble in a nearby field. Since strong winds were blowing, the fire spread to nearby SC colony and damaged the houses.