Six struck dead by lightning

Four people were struck dead by lightning in Gadag and one person each died after being struck by lightning in Belgaum and Hassan districts as heavy rains were reported in several parts of the State on Wednesday night and Thursday. 

Three shepherds and a woman were struck dead by lightning in Gadag district on Thursday.

Mallappa Siddappa Soratur, 20, Mallappa Kariyappa Nellannavar, 16, and Mahantesh Suresh Somannavar, 18, died when lightning struck them when they were standing under a tree in a field on the Mulgund-Kanavi road. A total of 18 sheep that the trio were grazing also died.

The incident occurred when it started raining in the afternoon. Honnamma Ramappa Jaggala, 42, died when she was struck by lightning at Somashekarnagar in Gadag.

Heavy rains were reported from Bellary, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Belgaum, Haveri, Gadag and Dharwad districts on Thursday. Polling was affected for some time at Yaragatti in Savadatti taluk of the Belgaum Lok Sabha constituency, due to heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds. The situation was similar in several places of Bagalkot district.

Shankar Dundappa Sonnad died when lightning struck him at Palabavi in Raibag taluk of Belgaum district, while he was returning from his field on Thursday evening. Jeeva, a 17-year-old college student from Koneralu village near Belur in Hassan district, was struck dead by lightning on Thursday evening. 

The incident occurred when Jeeva and other boys were playing at a ground. Heavy rains brought respite from the sweltering heat in Belur and Halebid.