7 killed by lightning as heavy rains pound North Karnataka

Bengaluru: Lightning strikes claimed at least seven lives across North Karnataka on Monday and Tuesday as the region continues to reel under the onslaught of unrelenting thundershowers.

Ballari, Davangere, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Belagavi and other districts have received heavy rain.

In addition to scores of trees being uprooted, electric poles and makeshift sheds erected on farms have either been brought down or swept away in some parts of North Karnataka. Residents of Ballari woke up to a shower of hailstones on Tuesday.

Two men and a woman from three villages in Haveri district – Basavanneppa Kanasogi (65) of Dammalli, 29-year-old Sunil Kaalera of Kudupalli, and in Kondoji, Mariyavva Naiker (60), a farm worker hailing from Gadag, died after being struck by lightning on Monday evening.

Cases have been registered at the respective police stations in connection with these fatalities.

Haveri district in-charge minister Shivanand Patil promised that all three bereaved families would be provided a suitable compensation from the government.

Meanwhile, in Kanaewarded with Kagiri village in Koppal, 45-year-old Yankkappa Jaadi, who was at his farm and his ox, estimated to be worth Rs 1 lakh, both fell prey to a lightning strike in the afternoon on Tuesday.

On learning of the tragedy, tahsildar Vishwanath Murudi called on the Jaadi’s bereaved wife, and assured her of the government’s support, besides informing her that the family would receive Rs 5 lakh in compensation. 

In eerily similar circumstances, a 35-year-old farmer and his ox died after being jolted by lightning on a farm in Harvapura village in Raichur district.

Lingappa Hireear-old Sunil died instantly after being hit by lightning, Vinod (14) was admitted to the Siruguppa Taluk Government Hospital with severe injuries.

Widespread rain across Ballari district left several parts waterlogged, with reports pouring in of water entering homes. Karnataka Disaster Management Force has also reported that a house collapsed in Ballari town owing to incessant rainfall.

Power outage in villages

The streets of Alamatti in Vijayapura district were strewn not merely with branches and
uprooted trees but sturdy electric poles that were blown off the ground by strong winds that accompanied heavy rain in the town on Monday and Tuesday.

A 440V electric pole installed on a farm in Benala came tumbling down; damage to power supply infrastructure resulted in power outage in Benala, Gonala, Devapaura among other villages.

Close to 30mm rain Many parts of the Tumakuru district received copious rain over the past 24 hours, with some recording more than 27mm of rainfall.

While C S Pura received the least rainfall (5.8mm), Amruthooru was practically drowned in rainwater, with 29mm of rain pouring on the village relentlessly. Chikkanayakanalli (17.6mm), Kunigal (26mm), Nittoor (16mm), Shettikere (27.6mm) were among the areas in Tumakuru that were lashed by heavy showers.

Heavy rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, lashed various parts of Davangere city and the district on Tuesday.