Three people have died and 44 livestock were killed by lightning strikes in Karnataka following the return of heavy rainfall across parts of the state, as weather officials warned of continued thunderstorms, strong winds, and intense precipitation over the coming days.
In Kalaburagi district, Lakshmi Guttedar, 45, and Saijad Bi, 60, were killed on Wednesday when lightning struck a tree under which they were eating lunch in their farmland at Nagur village, located in Kamalapur taluk. In a separate incident at Udabanalli village in Bidar South, a farmer was struck and killed by lightning while working in his field.
Lightning strikes in the Raichur and Bidar districts also resulted in the deaths of 44 sheep and goats.
Following the fatalities, Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Ikramulla Shariff announced financial relief for the victims’ families. The families of those killed will receive ₹5 lakh each from the State Disaster Response Fund within two days, according to the administration.
The downpours recorded significant rainfall totals across multiple regions. Uttara Kannada reported the highest levels in the state, with parts of the district receiving up to 12 cm of rain. Gokarna and Shahapur in Yadgir district both recorded 6 cm of rainfall. Rain was also reported across Ballari, Bagalkot, Koppal, Bidar, Raichur, Belagavi, Vijayapura, and Kalaburagi.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast sustained rainfall across Karnataka through September 25, affecting urban areas including Bengaluru. According to state weather officials, the intensification of rainfall is driven by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal that has developed into Cyclone Anarb.
Senior scientist Chanabasanagouda S Patil of the state weather department confirmed that the IMD issued a yellow alert for Uttara Kannada and several surrounding areas.
Coastal Karnataka is expected to experience heavy rain accompanied by isolated thunderstorms and wind speeds between 30 and 40 kmph. Moderate rain is projected across Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Bagalkot, Haveri, Dharwad, Koppal, Vijayapura, and Gadag.
In South Interior Karnataka, isolated heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds are forecast for Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, and Shivamogga. Bengaluru and neighboring districts are expected to see persistent cloudy conditions, moderate rain, thundershowers, and gusty winds.
Sources
– Hindustan Times: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/3-killed-44-livestock-die-in-lightning-strikes-101790278200972.html
Source: Hindustan Times – India News
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Story synopsis gathered from: Hindustan Times – India News — source
