Rain plays havoc

Lightning struck Mollayya (45) while he along with others was sheltering from rain under a tree in Madivala forest near Kenchanadoddi of Channapattana hobli in Kanakapur taluk.

The labourers took shelter from rain under a tree when lightning struck them. Two others sustained injuries in the incident. According to Deputy Secretary (Disaster Management), Desai, three people in Shimoga, two in Davangere and one in Haveri have died in the rain-related accidents. As many as 95 houses in Shimoga, 529 in Haveri and 256 houses in Davangere were damaged.

The bodies of three persons who were washed away in Dandavathi river in Sorab taluk were fished out in the evening. Rains receded in Shimoga district on Tuesday and the snapped road connectivity at few places in Shikaripur and Sorab taluks, has been restored.

The gruel centre in Esur village has been closed as normalcy returned. Water level in Linganamakki reservoir has reached 1,812.40 feet with an inflow of 6,961 cusec.

Shimoga, Haveri and Davangere districts received heavy rainfall in the last two days. The total rainfall recorded between October 3 and 4 in these districts is 77mm, 128 mm and 87 mm respectively. Vast tracts of agricultural lands have been inundated damaging crops in 9,500 hectares.

According to preliminary reports from the Revenue department, crops grown in 800 ha of Shimoga district, 8,714 ha in Haveri and 68 ha in Davangere have been washed away in rain water. Heavy rain that lashed Narasimharajapura taluk destroyed banana plantations in nine acres. About 1,000 banana trees have been damaged in Medarabeedi alone.  
Nearly 25 areca nut trees uprooted in an estate while a huge tree fell on a house damaging tiles. Gusty winds also blew away tiles and uprooted several electric poles in the taluk.
DH News Service