Heavy showers cause widespread damage in N Karnataka dists

Heavy showers, accompanied by thunder and lightning, pounded North Karnataka districts on Wednesday night, causing widespread damage in the region.

The downpour that lashed Kalaburagi city (11 cm), Chittapur (10.5 cm) and Sedam (10.3 cm) towns, on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, has left behind a trail of destruction.

Two people were killed while a woman suffered grievous injuries in separate incidents of lightning strikes in the district.

Ramappa Hanamanth, 50, a resident of Kachawar village in Sedam taluk, was struck dead by lightning.

Halleppa (40), a native of Mandewala in Jewargi taluk, died in a lightning strike in Aland taluk. His wife Basamma is injured and admitted to a hospital.

Several low-lying areas in the city were inundated with rainwater gushing into the houses, basement of commercial establishments (Complex). Around eight houses in Durgah area and Hirapur have been damaged.

Hospital flooded
The KBN General Hospital in the city was flooded with rainwater following the heavy downpour. Most of the wards on the ground floor were affected.

Superintendent of hospital Moinuddin told DH, "Some of the wards on ground floor were affected. The worst affected were the wards below Operation Theatre, where there was knee-deep water. The patients have been shifted to the ward on first floor”

Bagalkot and parts of the district experienced heavy showers on Wednesday night.
A portion of the compound wall of district stadium at Navanagar in Bagalkot has collapsed in the rain. Over 15 houses in Bagalkot taluk have suffered partial damage. Cases of tree falls were reported from various parts of the town.

Kharif crop on vast tract of land in Hagaribommanahalli taluk of Ballari district was destroyed in the overnight showers accompanied by strong winds.

Belagavi and parts of the district including Ramdurg town witnessed downpour on Wednesday night. Vijayapura and Gadag districts recorded moderate to heavy rain in the early hours of Thursday.

Shivamogga and Davangere districts too received moderate rain on Wednesday night and Thursday.

DH News Service