10 killed in Andhra, Telangana rains

Unseasonal rains in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during last two days claimed 10 lives, officials said on Monday.

While six people were killed in Andhra Pradesh, four lost their lives in Telangana in various rain-related incidents.

Unseasonal rains and hailstorms caused widespread damage to standing crops across Telangana and in parts of Andhra Pradesh.

The rains damaged paddy, mango, maize, turmeric, chilly and horticulture crops in Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Warangal, Khammam, Mahabubnagar and other districts in Telangana.

Affected farmers staged protests at various places, demanding the government purchase affected paddy.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting in Hyderabad and directed officials to provide assistance to families of those killed and the farmers who lost their crops.

He asked the officials to gather all details from districts about the number of people killed, the extent of damage to crops and the number of cattle killed and the houses damaged.

He announced that Rs.5 lakh would be paid each to the families of the deceased.

Andhra Pradesh government announced a compensation of Rs.4 lakh each to the families of those killed in the rains.

Three people each were killed in Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantapur districts. Standing agriculture and horticulture crops were damaged in these districts.

Agriculture Minister P. Pulla Rao said the crops loss in all districts was being enumerated. Officials estimate that crops over one lakh crore were damaged.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is on a visit to China, reviewed the situation with Chief Secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao over phone.

The chief secretary held a meeting with officials in Hyderabad and directed them to extend immediate assistance to the affected people.

The standing crops which would have been harvested in the month of April have been flattened by the rain and strong winds, said an official statement.

Meanwhile, met office has forecast more rains over next two days in both the states under the low pressure trough.