VISAKHAPATNAM/SRIKAKULAM:The Sudden downpour witnessed in Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam districts was due to an existing upper air trough which runs from Chhattisgarh to south Tamil Nadu across Telangana and Rayalaseema, officials at the Cyclone Warning Centre said here Monday. Though the rains brought much-needed relief to north Coastal Andhra region which has been experiencing sticky weather for many days now, a woman was killed in a lightning strike, while rain damaged crops in parts of Srikakulam district.
M Rupavathi (19), was hit by lightning while working in the agricultural fields at Jagannathavalasa village of Vangara mandal Monday morning. She died on the spot. People of Vajrapukotturu, Vangara, Veeraghattam, Bhamini, Sitampeta, Meliyaputti, Palasa and Nandigam mandals of Srikakulam have been receiving heavy rain since Sunday night. Though crop loss was reported in some mandals, the officials said that there was no major damage and that the loss is yet to be estimated.
However, the rains brought down temperatures in many parts, including Viszag. The Coastal Andhra districts have been experiencing temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius since April 1. The Visakhapatnam airport area recorded 34 degrees Celsius, a degree less than the normal temperature.
Due to the upper air trough over the state, the temperatures fell by about 6 degrees Celsius over the last 24 hours in places like Vijayawada. Vijayawada recorded the maximum temperature of 32 degrees Celsius, about 6 degree less than normal. In Rayalaseema, both the maximum and minimum temperatures fell considerably with places like Kurnool and Nandyal recording about eight degrees Celsius less than normal in the past 24 hours.
Heavy Rain, Rising Heat Forecast
The Met department authorities issued a heavy rainfall warning stating that heavy rain would occur at isolated places in all districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh and moderate to rather heavy rain/thundershowers at many places in Rayalaseema region, over the next 48 hours. However, the meteorologists fear that the temperatures might go up after the wet spell in a couple of days and the state may experience temperatures above 40 degree Celsius.