Mysuru/Mandya/Hassan, Apr 21 (DHNS): Mysuru city and the surrounding areas received heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning for more than an hour on Thursday evening.

Hassan also witnessed heavy downpour during the evening. Channarayapatna in Hassan district received moderate rainfall, accompanied by hailstones for 10 minutes.

Rain lashed Ayarahalli, Solamballi and Kamaravalli at Hirisave hobli in Channarayapatna taluk. A huge tree fell on the houses near Basvaeshwara Temple at Kamaravalli. Electricity poles collapsed snapping power supply to a few villages. Mandya experienced heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. KR Pet, Nagamangala, Maddur, Basaralu and Pandavapura also received good rain.

Helicopter ride cut short

Three ministers flying to Bengaluru by helicopter were forced to abandon the journey midway and return to Mysuru because of heavy rainfall on Thursday.

D?K Shivakumar, T B Jayachandra and M B Patil had boarded the helicopter in Mysuru. But sudden downpour in Maddur, Mandya district, made the journey dangerous and the group had to return to Mysuru. Their return journey was hassle-free. The ministers later wanted to travel to Bengaluru by road but decided to stay put in Mysuru.

The helicopter had earlier dropped off Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Mysuru. Siddaramaiah visited a private hospital in the city to call on his confidant and Public Works Minister H?C Mahadevappa who is suffering from a blood clot in the legs. Incidentally, it was Mahadevappa’s birthday. The chief minister and other Congress leaders celebrated the occasion in the hospital itself.

Siddaramaiah said Mahadevappa was recovering well and there was nothing to worry. “After canvassing extensively for Nanjangud and Gundlupet bypolls, he has been suffering from leg pain and is being treated. It is fortunate that it is raining. People should pray for more rain,” he said.

Siddaramaiah later left for Bengaluru by road via Bannur, Malavalli and Kanakapura.