JOIN USAt least six people were killed in separate incidents of wall collapse, lightning and flash flooding of streams triggered by heavy showers in the districts in Hyderabad Karnataka and Mumbai Karnataka regions of the state on Friday.
Two elderly couples were killed in separate incidents of wall collapse reported in Indi taluk, Vijayapura district, on Thursday night.
Rachappa Sutar (61) and his wife Siddavva Sutar (55) of Halgunaki were killed when a portion of the wall of a house collapsed on their shed. The couple were killed in their sleep. In another incident reported at Jevuru, Karabasappa Akalwadi (65) and Indirabai Akalwadi (60) were killed on the spot when a portion of the wall of their house collapsed on them. The jurisdictional police have registered separate cases.
Heavy rain, accompanied by strong winds, lashed Indi taluk on Thursday night. Jhalaki expereinced 15.2 cm of rain while Chadachan recorded 12.7 cm. The Borihalla stream in Chadachan has come alive, flowing in full spate after eight years.
Several houses have suffered damages at Baradola and Jigajinagi villages, Special Tahsildar Sangamesh Melligeri told DH.
Many lakes and ponds in Yadgir district are filled to the brim following the downpour on Thursday night. The overnight rain has brought smiles on the faces of many farmers in the district, which lies in semi-arid region.
But a few farmers, more so of the villages under Saidapur, Chinnakar and Hattikuni hoblis, are worried as their cotton farms have been submerged under rainwater. The green gram crop at Mundargi, Ramasamudra, Arakera, Kandakuru and surrounding villages has been destroyed in the rain.
A total of 30 houses have suffered damage in the overnight rain. Seven sheep were killed in lightning strike at Bachawara village, Tahsildar Channamalappa Ghanti informed DH.
A lorry cleaner was washed away in a canal which was flowing in full spate following heavy rain at Gogi village in Shahpur.
The victim has been identified as Amzad Sheikh Rafique (22), a resident of Jat district in Maharashtra. The incident occurred when he was trying to wash his clothes.
The Fire and Emergency Services personnel and the police have launched the search operation.
Jevargi town and parts of the taluk in Kalaburagi district received copious rain on Thursday night. A road bridge on Vijayapura Road in the town has been washed away in the overnight showers. The showers pounded the town and parts of taluk for over five hours.
The kharif crops on vast extent of farms was destroyed in the downpour. A few overflowing streams disrupted traffic on Jevargi-Vijayapura road.
Siruguppa and parts of the taluk in Ballari district have expereinced heavy showers on late Thursday night. The downpour has injected life into Tungabhadra and Hagari rivers. The water flow in Garjihalla and Karuruhalla streams has increased.
Sindholu Colony in Tekkalakote was the worst hit. Rainwater gushed into several houses causing hardships to the people. The government school at the colony declared a holiday on Friday due to waterlogging.
A portion of Ballari-Siruguppa road in Tekkalakote was washed away in the overnight rains. Tekkalakote recorded a staggering 85.4 mm of rain, M Suguru 79.2 mm, Karuru 50.4 mm, Sirigeri 37.1 mm, Siraguppa 27.4 mm, Grade-2 Tahsildar B Malleshappa told DH.
Shepherd killed
A shepherd was struck dead by lightning at Nimbalgundi in Hungund taluk of Bagalkot district on Friday evening.
The deceased has been identified as Shekarappa Sunkad (35). The incident occurred when he was standing under a tree. The Amingad police have registered a case.
Kushtagi town in Koppal district on Thursday night, experienced a record 82 mm rain. The lakes and tanks in the taluk have come alive following the overnight showers . Tavaragera and Dotihal in the taluk too received heavy rain.
Arsikere town and surrounding areas in Hassan district received heavy rain on Thursday evening affecting normal life. Walls of many houses have collapsed in the rain.
While the town recorded 97 mm of rain, Banavara received 41 mm, Gandasi 65 mm, Yalavare 98 mm and Kanakatte 88 mm. It started raining at 4 pm and continued to pour for over an hour. Rainwater entered houses in many low-lying areas in Saraswathipuram Layout, Indiranagar and other places.
The KSRTC bus stand was inundated. Vehicles had to wade through water as the drains were clogged and water overflowed on to the national highway, BH Road and Arsikere-Mysuru road.
Parts of Shivamogga district, including Shivamogga city, Thirthahalli, Sagar, Sorab recieved moderate to heavy showers of Friday evening.