Bengaluru, Mar 9 (DHNS): Rains were reported from several parts of the State, including the coastal districts, on Sunday.
Heavy rain claimed the life of a person when the retaining wall of a temple caved in on him at Koyyur in Belthangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada district. The deceased is Diwakar (37), a videographer and a resident of Puttatadka in Puttur taluk.
It is said that he was shooting the video of the Nagamandala ritual at the Panchadurga Parameshwari temple when the incident occurred. Rain, coupled with lightning and thunder, lashed Belthangady town in the evening. The rain brought relief from the scorching sun.
Showers were reported in Kodagu district also. Rain lashed Madikeri, Suntikoppa, Virajpet, Napoklu, Bhagamandala, Gonikoppa, Kushalnagar, Somwarpet and Shanivarasanthe. Farmers were all smiles as rain during the season is essential for the flowering of coffee plants. Parts of Chikkamagaluru also received rainfall.
Shivamogga
Moderate to heavy rain accompanied by lightning, strong wind and thunder lashed various parts of Shivamogga district, claiming the lives of two persons.
Sharan, 16, son of Erappa died after he was struck by lightning at Malavalli village in Shikaripur taluk while he was carrying tarpaulin to protect the crops from rain. In another incident, Gutyappa, 64, died after he was struck by lightning while he was working in the fields at Tyagarthi village in Sagar taluk. Parts of Shivamogga, Thirthahalli, Sorab, Bhadravathi and Hosanagar taluks received moderate to heavy rain for a few hours in the evening.
Power supply was disrupted at several villages in Hosanagar taluk as electricity poles were uprooted due to strong wind. Roof tiles of three houses in Sorab town were blown away. A coconut tree was uprooted at Harnahalli in Shivamogga taluk.
Haveri
Rains threw life out of gear in Savanur taluk of Haveri district. A 15-year-old boy was killed after he was struck by lightning at Kalakoti village in the taluk. The deceased is Bheemanna Paddanna Anushe, of Nayinglaj village in Chikodi taluk of Belagavi district. The boy’s father Paddanna Rama, 45, has become disabled in his legs after he was struck by lightning. Showers, accompanied by winds, were reported in Chitradurga also.
Ballari
Shashikala Barikar, 21, was struck dead by lightning while she was working in the fields at Hirehegdala village in Kudligi taluk of Ballari district. Her parents-in-law, who were working with her, were injured when lightning struck them. Rains were reported from other parts of North Karnataka, including Ballari district. Crops were destroyed in the rain in Hospet taluk of Ballari district.
Bidar
A teenager was killed and two others were injured when lightning struck a tree on which the three were taking shelter at a field at Hankuni village in Humnabad taluk of the district on Sunday. The deceased is 14-year-old Anand, who died on the spot.