18 die in Indian Andhra storm

At least 18 people were killed due to thunderstorms that lashed coastal areas in Andhra Pradesh, India, Indo-Asian News Service reported Sunday.

Guntur district accounted for 10 deaths while eight people died in Krishna, Srikakulam, Karimnagar and Nalgonda districts Saturday evening. Several people were injured and a large number of cattle perished.

The unseasonal rains accompanied by strong winds damaged houses, mango orchards, and crops.

"I have never seen unseasonal rains at this time of summer," said Yadi Reddy, a mango farmer in Krishna district.

The heavy rains and gales, the result of low pressure over the Bay of Bengal, uprooted trees and electric poles in cities throwing traffic out of gear and plunging large areas into darkness.

In Guntur city, electric transformers were damaged at many places. The towers of mobile phone companies crashed disrupting communication facilities.

Local government is sending officials to the affected districts to survey the extent of damage.