JOIN USHeavy rainfall, accompanied with hailstorm and gusty winds, claimed the lives of four persons in North Karnataka since Monday night.
Two farm workers were killed and another injured after lightning struck them at Sanikoppa village in Bailhongal taluk of Belgaum district on Tuesday.
According to the police, Mallappa Yellappa Bellikatti, 55, a resident of Sanikoppa village, Thippanna Ningappa Madiwalar, 68, of Yadal village in Bailhongal taluk, and Siddappa Basavanneppa Segani, all farm labourers, were working in the fields.
When it started raining, the trio ran for shelter and stood under a tree, when lightning struck, killing Mallappa and Thippanna on the spot.
Siddappa, who sustained burns, was rushed to the government hospital in Bailhongal and was later shifted to the district hospital. The Bailhongal police have registered a case.
Anasavva Shivappa Dalawai, 35, died on the spot when lightning struck her while she was returning home from the fields in Garag village of Dharwad taluk.
Woman succumbs
A woman was killed on Monday night when the roof of her house collapsed following heavy rain in Indi taluk. Jannatbi Sheikh, 65, of Hittalli village, died at a hospital where she was being treated for the injuries she sustained in the incident.
More than 30 people were injured when rain, accompanied with heavy winds, blew away the asbestos roofs of their houses.
The district administration has opened gruel centres for residents whose houses have been damaged in the rain. Three such centres have been opened at Anjutagi village and one at Hittalli village in the taluk.