The Vizianagaram district administration has taken up a special drive to create awareness among agriculture labourers and 3.12 lakh active NREGA workers about the steps to be taken up during lightning activity which has already taken 11 lives in just one month in the district. An elderly woman Bontapalli Savitramma of Kottapenta village of Bobbili mandal and Pattika Prasada Rao of Lumbesu village of GL Puram mandal died on April 18. Along with her nine-year-old granddaughter Sravani, an elderly woman Dwaraka Ramayyam died on the spot in Rajapulova of Bhogapuram mandal. Rowthu Gowri Naidu of Rellivalasa village of Bhogapuram mandal and Dhakapu Adinarayana of Sundarada village of Terlam mandal were struck dead by lightining. According to them, the labourers should put down their head to the ground whenever they hear the sounds of thunder.

Source: The Hindu May 12, 2018 18:04 UTC