2 killed as heavy rains lash Warangal; paddy crop hit

Two persons died and agricultural produce and houses were damaged after heavy rain coupled with gusty winds lashed parts of erstwhile Warangal district on Sunday. Paddy farmers in Warangal Rural and Mahbubabad districts were the worst hit after the produce they were about to sell got drenched.

Several houses and cattle sheds were damaged and trees were uprooted. Normal life was thrown out of gear as electricity lines were disturbed.

In Warangal Rural district, Chennaraopet, Nekkonda and Khanapur mandals were the worst hit. The roofs of several houses were blown away. Trees were uprooted and blocked the roads.

Two persons were killed due to lightning in Lingapuram in Chennraopet mandal. The deceased were identified as Muchika Kumaraswamy and Azmeera Swamy.

The roof of a rice mill in Khanapur was also damaged and about `1.35 lakh worth of paddy and 1,500 quintals of rice stored inside was damaged.

A haystack belonging to Bommashetty Narsaiah in Narsimhulapet in Mahbubabad district caught fire due to a short circuit. The locals complained that their concerns regarding low hanging electricity lines were not addressed and this caused the short circuit. The farmer incurred a loss of `1 lakh.

Officials arrived at the scene and put out the fire before it spread further.

Narsampet MLA Peddi Sudharshan Reddy inspected some of the affected areas in Khanapur and assured the farmers that even the damaged produce would be bought at MSP.