Lightning toll touches 52 ; monsoon active in south

New Delhi, June 22 (UNI) The death toll due to lightning in Marathwada region reached 52, with 10 more deaths reported on the sixth day today, while South West Monsoon was active in southern states even as the northern and central parts of the country continued to reel under oppressive weather conditions.

According to official sources at the Divisional Commissionerate here, four people were killed due to lightning in Osmanabad today, followed by Beed (three), Aurangabad (two) and Nanded (one).

With 10 more deaths due to lightning from the region, the death toll reached 52, with Latur registering highest number of deaths at 13, followed by Beed 11, Aurangabad 9, Jalna 7, Osmanabad 6, Parbhani and Nanded 3 deaths each.

As per the information available at the divisional headquarters here, as many as eight people have been injured and several cattle killed or injured in the natural calamity in last six days so far.

In Tamil Nadu, people heaved a sigh of relief as the South West monsoon become active again.

Weather office sources said the monsoon has become active over Kerala, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, following which, the city and other parts of the state, recieved showers this afternoon.

The average temperature was 37 deg c.

The sources said that yesterday's trough, which extended from Vidharbha to South Tamil Nadu, now runs from coastal Andhra Pradesh to South Peninsula across coastal Tamil Nadu.

As per reports from Thiruvananthapuram, the South West Monsoon was active over Kerala, with rains lashing most of the places in the state and in many places in Lakshwadeep.

The Local Met office here said Aluwaye, Kodulgalur and Thrissur recorded the highest amount of rainfall (nine cm).

While Paravoor received eight cm rains, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Chalakudi and Kollam got seven cm. Six cm of rainfall was recorded at Kochi, Mangombu, Thiruvalla, Mavelikkara, and Chertala.

Officials also warned of isolated heavy rains in Kerala and Lakshadweep. Winds from the South Westerly direction with a speed of about 45 to 50 kmph were likely to lash along and off Kerala Coast and Lakshadweep, they said.

According to reports from Hyderabad, the Southwest monsoon, weak since June 8, has become active again, covering the entire coastal Andhra region and parts of Telangana and Rayalaseema with upper air circulation off the coastal Andhra still persisting, a senior Indian Met Department official said.

Under the influence of the system in the Bay of Bengal, fairly widespread rain, is likely to occur at many places in South Telangana and over coastal Andhra region, with isolated heavy falls at one or two places in the region, Hyderabad Met Office Director Satya Kumar told UNI.

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