12 killed in unseasonal rains, hailstorms in Andhra Pradesh

At least 12 persons were killed and crops in over one lakh hectares suffered damage due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms that have lashed Andhra Pradesh since the beginning of this month.
According to an official release here today, Warangal, Nizambad and Anantapur districts accounted for 7, 3 and 2 deaths respectively in various rain-related incidents.
Agriculture and horticulure crops in 1,14,148 hectares were damaged in 14 districts, the release said.
As many as 1,204 houses were damaged due to hailstorms or thunder-showers and 1,856 livestock lost.
The District Collectors concerned have been instructed by the Chief Secretary to pay exgratia at the earliest in respect of all death cases, it said.

Agriculture Department officials have been asked to deploy teams and enumerate crop damage, loss of livestock and furnish proposals for financial assistance to affected farmers within a week, the release added.