Five killed in rain-related incidents in Andhra Pradesh

Vijayawada: Five persons were on Thursday killed in separate rain-related incidents in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.

Three persons were washed away in the Kuppaganji rivulet near Chilakaluripet, while another was rescued by the villagers.

One person was killed in a lightning strike at Brahmanapalli village near Piduguralla, while another was killed when an uprooted tree fell on him.

Deputy Chief Minister N China Rajappa, who also holds the Home and Disaster Management portfolios and who has been touring Chilakaluripet to oversee the rescue-and-relief operations in the flood-hit areas, announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.

As there was a forecast of more rain in the next couple of days, people living in the low-lying areas were being evacuated to safer places, the deputy chief minister said.

He has directed the officials to be on a "high alert" to tackle any eventuality.