Rains claim three lives in N-K region

Many sun-baked districts of north Karnataka have been resembling Malnad region for the past two days. However, the rains have also taken their casualty.

Heavy rains that lashed several parts of Gulbarga district on Thursday has caused extensive damage to life and property with two persons electrocuted in Aland taluk.

The victims, Parvati Belamagi, 50, and her son-in-law Babu Ramanna, 39, were electrocuted when they came in contact with a live wire that had snapped and fell on a field at Hitthal Shirur village.

Several low-lying areas in Gulbarga city were flooded following heavy rains. Some of the worst affected areas were Shahabazar Naka, Janata Colony and Lalgeri Cross.

 According to official sources as many as 37 houses in Afzalpur taluk, four in Yedrami in Jewargi taluk and one in Kamalapur in Gulbarga taluk have collapsed. UKP branch canals breached Kellur village in Jewargi taluk flooding several fields with standing crops.

A tank at Betjewargi village in Aland taluk too has breached. A gruel centre has been opened for the people of Khanderayanapalli in Sedam taluk whose houses were flooded.

Deputy Commissioner N V Prasad quoting the meteorology department said that the district would receive heavy rains for the next two days and has instructed all officers to be present in head quarters to meet any eventuality.

The rains however, have revived the hopes of kharif crops particularly red gram (tur) the main cash crop of th district.

Bijapur

On Wednesday, heavy rains lashed Bijapur in the daytime while it drizzled the entire night. The rains also lashed the district on Thursday.

In Sindagi taluk, a woman died in wall collapse and two others were injured. Heavy rains lashed the region between Basavana Bagewadi and Talikote both on Wednesday and Thursday. In Bijapur City, rainwater flooded many low-lying areas.

The rains threw life out of gear in the district as students, officegoers and others struggled to commute. The downpour also dashed the hopes of traders who expecting good business ahead of Gowri Ganesha festivals.

The district has received an average rainfall of 37.2 mm of rainfall from Wednesday morning to Thursday morning (24 hours).

Devara Hipparagi in Sindagi taluk received maximum rainfall of 95.8 mm while Indi received the lowest rainfall of 6 mm.

Belgaum

Most of the taluks in the district received moderate rainfall during the past 24 hours.In Belgaum City the weather was cloudy with occasional drizzle on Thursday.Chikodi taluk recorded the highest rainfall of 225.9 mm, followed by Hukkeri 221.1 mm and Khanapur 178.9 mm.

Dharwad

Rains continued to batter Dharwad district even on Thursday with most of the taluks receiving intermittent showers throughout the day.

In Hubli-Dharwad, the rain which started on Tuesday, continued on Thursday too, resulting in a harrowing time for students and office-goers. Most of the interior roads in the twin cities have either turned muddy or water-logged.

Following Ganesha Chaturthi on Friday, people were seen selling flowers and fruits in the rain though many people stayed indoors.

Yadgir

Heavy rains lashed the district from Wednesday night to Thursday evening, inundating several agriculture fields.

During the period, Surapura recorded 65.8 mm of rainfall, Hunasagi 34.2 mm and Kembhavi 58.8 mm.

In Satyampet of Surapura taluk, a stream flooded 100 acres of agriculture land. The rains have also washed the bridge connecting Yadiyapura-Mudanur villages near Kembhavi. 

Haveri Following copious rainfall in the district for the past two days, 30 houses have been partially damaged. Rivers Varada, Kumudwavathi and Dharma are also in spate.

Bellary

Hospet taluk in the district received rainfall for 24 hours from Wednesday morning till Thursday morning. Hagaribommanahalli, Hoovinahadagali and Kudlagi taluks too received rainfall throughout the day on Thursday.

The Hospet taluk on an average received 48 mm of rainfall. The TB Dam area in the taluk received the highest rainfall of 88 mm followed by Hospet city 64 mm. Several agriculture fields were flooded.