Unseasonal rain claims three lives in N-K

Unseasonal rains accompanied with hailstorm wreaked havoc in parts of North Karnataka on Sunday. The showers claimed three lives and destroyed grape, pomegranate and chikku crops worth Rs 500 crore.

Kamalavva Lakshmana Irgar (45) was killed after a tree under which she was taking shelter from rains, uprooted in Vaderahatty village of Gokak taluk in Belgaum district. Kamalavva and others were returning home from their coolie work when the incident occurred.

Heavy rains lashed parts of Athani, Raibag, Chikodi and Ramdurg taluks, while Belgaum city received rains in the early hours of the day.

An elderly woman was killed after the roof of her house collapsed due to rain in Anjutagi village of Indi taluk in Bijapur district. The tin sheet roof of the house of Kallavva Kavadi (70) came crashing down following a hailstorm. Rains pummeled parts of Mundgod and several parts of Uttara Kannada district.

A 24-year-old youth was killed after being struck by lightning in Hungund taluk of Bagalkot district late on Saturday night. Pundalika Basappa Koppada was returning home after grazing his sheep when lightning struck him.

Showers in DK

Heavy rains pounded Kukke Subrahmanya and Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district on Sunday evening. Subrahmanya witnessed thundershowers, accompanied by heavy winds for half an hour while it rained for about an hour in Dharmasthala. Power supply was interrupted in Kaikamba after a tree was uprooted. Telephone connections were disrupted due to rains. A few parts of f Chikmagalur district also received rains in the evening.

Trail of destruction

The unseasonal rains accompanied with hailstorm have caused extensive damage to horticultural crops in Bagalkot district. Deputy Director of Horticulture Department Srishyla Diddimani told Deccan Herald that grapes grown on 1,465 hectares, pomegranate on 955 hectares and chikku on 900 hectares have virturally been destroyed. He put the damage at Rs 500 crore.