Heavy rain is expected to lash Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued two alerts — one for the state's Rayalaseema region and another for north coastal Andhra.
"Heavy rain very likely to occur at isolated places over north coastal Andhra Pradesh. Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning very likely to occur at isolated places," the IMD said.
"Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning very likely to occur at isolated places over Rayalaseema," it added.
Weathermen have attributed the rain to a cyclonic circulation over north coastal Andhra.
Skymet Weather reported that in the post-monsoon season, the state's Rayalaseema region; comprising four districts Kadapa, Kurnool, Anantapur and Chittoor, received excess rainfall of 28%, while coastal Andhra Pradesh was looking at a 52% deficit.
Meanwhile, in a tragic incident, around 150 sheep died in Vedullapalle village in Andhra's Guntur district on Wednesday after a lightning strike. The sheep were kept inside an enclosure and the damage due to the deaths is expected to be around Rs 7 lakh. Speaking to the media, the owners of the sheep sought financial assistance from the state government.
September witnessed 50% excess rainfall, and saw Andhra Pradesh and Telangana register above normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon period spread from June to September.
While Telangana received 6% excess rainfall between June and September, it was 10% above normal in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, according to the IMD.
Despite having nearly 40% deficit in June due to a delayed monsoon and its sluggish movement during July, heavy rains in the subsequent months helped both states to overcome the shortfall.
During September, Andhra Pradesh received 229.1 mm rainfall against a normal of 152.5. According to the IMD, the rainfall was excess in East Godavari and Guntur districts while it was normal in the remaining eight districts.