Monsoon plays havoc in north Karnataka

As the southwest monsoon gathered pace in north Karnataka region, six persons were killed in rain-related incidents in the state since last week, police said yesterday.

North Karnataka is witnessing heavy downpour since July 6 evening. With monsoon having picked up pace, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Kodagu and Shivamogga districts are likely to experience heavy showers.

An orange alert has been sounded in these seven districts till July 16, according to the weather department.

In Bidar district, which has been witnessing unrelenting rain for the past three to four days, a woman and her daughter were struck dead by lightning at Khudavandpur in Bhalki taluk on Sunday. According to the Bhalki police, the incident took place when Bhagyashree Metre (32) and her daughter Vaishali (9) were returning from their farm.

Counting the dead

While in Chitradurga, three-year-old boy, Lohit and his mother, Savitramma (33) died after the wall of their house collapsed. “Grievously injured, Savitramma was admitted to a private hospital in Davanagere district died yesterday due to injuries, while her husband, Omkarappa is showing signs of recovery,” the Hosadurga police said. A spell of sharp showers in the early hours of Sunday left many streams and rivulets in spate rendering several villages inaccessible. Acres of crops in this region has been damaged due to the showers.

In Bidar district, which has been witnessing unrelenting rain for the past three to four days, a woman and her daughter were struck dead by lightning at Khudavandpur.