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At least 10 killed as rains batter Telangana, AP; life thrown out of gear in Hyderabad

At least 10 people lost their lives and many were injured as heavy rains and strong winds lashed both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Thursday.

At least 10 killed as rains batter Telangana, AP; life thrown out of gear in Hyderabad

Police personnel remove an uprooted tree that blocked a street after rains accompanied by dust storm left streets flooded and trees uprooted, in Hyderabad on May 3, 2018. (Photo: IANS)

At least 10 people lost their lives and many were injured as heavy rains and strong winds lashed both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Thursday. While the sudden change in weather came as a respite for some, it inflicted widespread destruction on many parts of the city.

Power disruptions were witnessed across several parts of Hyderabad since winds crashed into the region in the afternoon.

Both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh reportedly recorded five deaths in the hailstorm and gusty winds.

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Tress were uprooted, electricity poles damaged and low-lying areas inundated, affecting vehicular traffic and electricity supply.

Among the dead was a seven-year-old boy who was struck by lightning. Lightning also claimed four lives in Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy districts. Three persons died of lightning strike in Guntur and Prakasam districts of Andhra Pradesh.

People were seen wading through the waterlogged streets, knee-deep at some places. Two-wheelers were toppled by force of the gushing waters on the streets of Hyderabad. Other vehicles, too, were damaged.

Though the temperature went down, there was near darkness over Hyderabad.

Telangana Excise Minister T Padma Rao, who visited some areas in Hyderabad, told reporters that Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) received reports of tree falling at 45 places in the city. There were also complaints of water logging at 25 places.

Telangana Energy Minister Jagdish Reddy said they received reports of 1,250 electricity poles being damaged due to strong winds.

Emergency teams were pressed into service to remove the uprooted trees from the roads and hoardings hanging precariously. Two control rooms in Hyderabad and Warangal have been set up to ensure coordination in rescue efforts.

Heavy rains battered Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts in north coastal Andhra early Thursday. Many parts of south coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions also recorded heavy rainfall.

The heavy rains damaged mango, paddy, maize and other crops. Several cattle perished due to lightning. The unseasonal rains also disrupted electricity supply in towns and villages.

According to the met office, the rains were triggered by cyclonic circulation over north Odisha and neighbourhood and another cyclonic circulation over West Vidarbha and neighbourhood. It has forecast thunderstorm accompanied with squall/hail at isolated places in all the districts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Friday.

Storm in northern India

At least 90 people lost their lives in a high-intensity squall followed by thundershowers and dust storm in Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.

While 27 died in Rajasthan, 64 lost their lives in Uttar Pradesh.

Read More: Storm kills at least 90, leaves over 130 injured in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh 

(With inputs from agencies.)

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