Lightning Kills Five In Andhra Pradesh

Amaravati: Lightning struck a tiny village in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh Sunday evening, killing five persons and injuring two others.

According to Information and Public Relations Minister Kalva Srinivasulu, nine villagers tried to take shelter in a small shed in the village fields at Kalugodu under Gummagadda mandal following rain on Sunday evening. "Suddenly, lightning struck the shed killing five persons. Two others were also injured in the incident," the minister said. Others had a lucky escape.

The village falls under Rayadurg Assembly constituency represented by the minister and he rushed to Kalugodu soon after hearing the news. "We have shifted the injured to hospital where they are undergoing treatment. We will pay ex-gratia to the kin of the deceased after talking to the Chief Minister," Kalva added.