Unseasonal thunderstorms claimed 18 lives and damaged crops in southern India over the weekend, officials said Monday.
The deaths were reported from nine of 23 districts in Andhra Pradesh state, the disaster management department said.
Most victims were killed by lightning strikes, collapsed houses and electrocution, it said.
Strong gales damaged about 1,150 houses across four districts. Rain and hail damaged rice, maize and other crops over 252,500 hectares.