N-K, coast continue to receive pre-monsoon showers

Thundershowers continued to lash South interior Karnataka, parts of North Karnataka and coastal region on Saturday.

Two persons, including a woman, were killed in rain-related incidents since Friday night. Basappa (65), a farmer from Lakshmisagar village in Channagiri taluk, Davangere district, washed away in Hirehalla stream, which was in full spate following the showers for the past three days.

Basappa fell into the stream from a bridge. A passerby tried in vain to rescue him. The mobile video of the farmer being washed away in the stream has gone viral on social media.

Basappa slipped into the stream, which was flowing in full steam. The Fire and Emergency Service personnel and the police have begun search operation, said Tahsildar L B Chandrashekar.

Bidar city and parts of the taluk have experienced hailstorm on Saturday. Showers, accompanied with strong wind, threw life out of gear in Bidar on Saturday afternoon. Tree falls in several areas plunged many areas in the city, including Guru Nagar, Shiv Nagar and extension areas into the dark for hours.

A woman was killed and three others, including a five-month baby suffered burns in lightning strikes in Dakshina Kannada district.

Savithri Rathod was struck dead by lightning at Nellikaru GP limits. Her husband Lalappa Rathod, a forest watcher, has suffered injuries. In another incident of a lightning strike at Kaprottu in Moodbidri taluk, Akshaya (25) and her five-month baby suffered burns.

Several houses across the district have suffered damages in Friday night rain.
Tree falls and uprooting of electricity poles were reported at several places in the district. Traffic on Kadaba-Subramanya state highway was affected after a full-grown tree fell on the road. Kodagu district continued to receive moderate to heavy showers. It rained heavily in Bhagamandala, Talacauvery, Nagarahole, Thithimathi, Konanakatte and Napoklu on Friday night.

Power supply to Moornadu and Napoklu was affected due to the snapping of power lines. Tree falls on Virajpet-Madikeri road affected vehicular movement. Parts of Tumakuru and Hassan districts too experienced thundershowers on Friday night and Saturday.