Rain hits several districts; eight killed in lightning

Scattered rainfall was reported at many places in the state. Heavy rain coupled with thunder and lightning lashed Chikkamagaluru and the surrounding areas on Tuesday afternoon. Roofs of two shops and a house were damaged in the rain at Kadrimidri Gadi. A man was injured when lightning struck him at Kaimara.

Two persons suffered injuries when lightning struck them at Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district on Monday night. The injured are Puthra (37) and his wife Baby. Four persons were killed as lightning struck them in Chitradurga district on Tuesday evening. Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder lashed several parts of the district.

In Hiriyur taluk, three youths were killed as lightning struck them in the backwaters of the Vanivilas Sagar reservoir near Aranakanive village. The dead are Harishnaik (26), Mallesh Naik (28) and Chayapathi (28) of the village.

The incident took place when the trio and their four friends went for fishing in a coracle in the backwaters of the reservoir. Mallesh Naik was working as a guest lecturer at Hosadurga government first grade college, while Chayapathi was a teacher at a private high school in Challakere.

A woman was struck dead by lightning when she was working at a horticulture farm near Bandravi in Chitradurga taluk on Tuesday. The deceased has been identified as Jambamma (35) of Bandravi village. 

Shillikyatara Gundappa, a labourer, died when lightning struck him at Allipur village in Hoovinahadagali taluk of Ballari district. The incident occurred when Gundappa and Mookappa, a co-worker, were returning home after work. Mookappa has suffered severe injuries. Three people, including a woman, were killed on the spot as they were struck by lightning at M Shettahalli of Periyapatna taluk, Mysuru district on Tuesday.

The deceased are Beeregowda (45) and his son Shivakumar (15). The two were taking shelter from rain under a tree when the incident occurred at around 1.30 pm. They were planting tobacco saplings in their field when rain stopped their work.
Struck by lightning

Eramma of Kuppalli, KR Nagar taluk in the district was also struck dead by lightning.
Mysuru, Mandya and Hassan districts received moderate to heavy rain on Tuesday. Mysuru city received hailstorms for an hour.

People in Chikkaballapur town were treated to a spectacle on Tuesday evening as it rained giant hailstones. Tree falls and destruction of crops were reported at some places.