Heavy rains coupled with gusty winds brought respite from sweltering heat in Almatti of Vijayapura taluk on Wednesday.  The town was reeling under high temperature for the past four days.

The showers which began at 5 in the evening continued till night. Heavy winds wreaked havoc by blowing up tin-sheet roofs of several dhabas near Hosur Cross on National Highway 50. Mangoes and coconuts were strewn over the roads due to the winds. The farmers, who have tilled their lands, were awaiting rain for sowing seeds. Agricultural activity will gain momentum with the Wednesday’s rain.

It also rained heavily in Benala, Vandala, Telagi, Angadageri, Nidagundi, Golasangi and other villages.

It rained heavily for about 30 minutes in Badami also.Nargund town in Gadag taluk also received heavy rains in the evening. The showers disrupted the weekly shandy and villagers in the vicinity  who had come for the shandy ran helter skelter. The canvassing from gram panchayat elections was also affected due to the rain. The 30-minute showers brought respite from heat for the residents.

Rain coupled with hailstones lashed Mulgund and surrounding villages for more than an hour. Rain water gushed into low-lying areas.

A 17-year-old boy was killed by lightning in Ramenahalli village of Mundaragi taluk. Manjappa Ramappa Bagali was grazing cows when lightning struck him.