ANANTAPUR: Five people taking shelter from thunder storm in Kalugodu village of Gummagatta mandal in Anantapur district were killed when lightning struck the small shed they had gathered in.
Boya Obanna, a 25-year-old from the village along with two others — B Sivaiah (26) and S Kareem Sahib (22) were preparing to return home after grazing their goats when thunderstorm lashed the area. J Jayanna (60) and M Giri Reddy (40), who came to the village tank to collect stones and gravel for constructing a grave, also joined them in the shed minutes before lightning struck the structure.
When her son had not returned home half an hour after the thunderstorm had stopped, Obanna’s mother went out in search of him only to find the bodies. She immediately ran back to the village crying and calling for help.
Rayadurgam CI T Chalapathi Rao and Kalyandurg RDO rushed to the spot. After inquest, the bodies were shifted to government hospital in Rayadurgam for postmortem. On hearing the news about the tragic incident, Information and Public Relations minister Kalava Srinivasulu along with collector G Veerapandian rushed to the spot. An ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh has been assured to each of the families of the deceased.
Meanwhile, another four — B Anil (18), B Venkatesh (28), G Mallesh (25) and B Bommaiah (31) — of the same village, who were returning to their homes were injured when lightning struck them near the village tank. Villagers shifted them to Rayadurgam government hospital.