Bangalore: Heavy rain coupled with gusty winds and lightning claimed 10 lives across the State on Saturday. Parts of North Karnataka recorded more deaths due to lightning.
Rains accompanied by hailstorm and stormy winds destroyed standing crops on vast tracts of land in Chitradurga district. Kanumappa (25) of Maradihatti village in Hiriyur taluk and Hogappa (45) of Menasinadu Gollarahatti village in Hosadurga taluk were struck dead by lightning while Ajjaiah (14) was injured in Chikkandavadi village of Hosadurga taluk. Deputy Commissioner has announced an ex gratia of Rs 1.5 lakh to the families of each of the deceased.
Strong winds and heavy downpour have wreaked havoc in Davangere district. Rainwater gushed into houses in the low-lying areas. Heavy winds blew away cement sheet-roof of several houses. Power supply was disrupted in several areas as electricity poles were uprooted. Shivappa (51) was killed by lightning in Daggi Basapur village of Harapanahalli taluk. The incident occurred while he was working in his farmland. Several livestock were killed in Jagalur and Harihar taluks.
Hailstorm and heavy rain pounded parts of Kudligi taluk in Bellary district on Saturday evening. Lightning struck M R Hanumanthappa, a shepherd who had taken shelter beneath a tree in Malur village. He died on his way to the hospital. Four persons and seven oxen were injured due to lightning elsewhere in the taluk.
North Karnataka
A 45-year-old farmer was struck dead by lightning in at Koganur village in Lakshmeshwara taluk of Gadag district. The deceased has been identified as Babusab Dawal Sab Chouri (45). Ravi Shivappa Megalamni and Chennappa Bijjappa Vokkalada sustained injuries in the incident. All the three were working in the fields when the incident occurred.
Annappa Hirebadagi (14) was killed by lightning in Hunagundi village of Ron taluk. Six large haystacks were reduced to ashes in the incident.
A 15-year-old shepherd was killed by lightning in Navalgund of Dharwad district. The deceased has been identified as Srikanth Shekhappa Lamani (15).
Kotappa Gouda Sharana Gouda Biradara (31), who was riding pillion on a two-wheeler was struck dead by lightning near Talikote in Bijapur district. He was returning home on a bike along with his two friends.
Tree branch crashes on car
Two persons were killed and four sustained grievous injuries after a tree branch fell of a car near Rudranahalli Gate in Arasikere taluk of Hassan district.
The deceased have been identified as Lokesh (35) and his friend (30), both residents of Somanahalli in Mandya district.
According to police, they were returning to Maddur after a visit to Sigandhureshwari temple in Sagar taluk of Shimoga district. Narayanappa, his wife Sowbhagya, son Ullas and son-in-law Prathima, who were in the car, have been admitted to government hospital in Arasikere.
Shimoga Heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder, lightning and strong winds lashed various parts of Shimoga district on Saturday evening.
According to sources, Shikaripur witnessed heavy rainfall for hours. Low-lying areas in the town were waterlogged. Power supply was disrupted as tree branches fell on electric wires. Sagar and Shimoga witnessed moderate rain accompanied by thunder, lightning and strong wind.
