Hailstorm, heavy rain accompanied
by lightning have left a trail of
destruction in Hyderabad
Karnataka districts in the past few
days.
Besides destroying crops,
casualties both human and
livestock have been reported.
Lightning and rain-related mishaps
have claimed the lives of 11 people
in Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur and
Koppal districts.
In Gulbarga, lightning has claimed
the lives of five people and 43
livestock. According to Additional
Deputy Commissioner Govinda
Reddy 23 cattle died on a single
day on April 3 due to hailstorm.
Three people-two from Aland taluk
and one from Sedam taluk, lost
their lives on a single day on May
5 due to lightning.
Crops including horticulture
cultivated in an area of 14,850
hectares have been destroyed.
Incidentally, the district has
recorded excess rainfall in
January-May period. While the
normal rainfall for the period is 34
mm, the district has received 54
mm till May 5 which is 80 per cent
more than the normal rainfall.
Death due to lightning
In Bidar, a woman was struck dead
by lightning in Aurad taluk.
However, no livestock deaths or
damage to houses have been
reported. In fact the district has
received only 11.7 mm rainfall as
against the normal rainfall of 20.2
mm in April.
Raichur
Lightning has killed two persons
and about a dozen cattle in the
last eight days in Raichur district.
According to reports, 50 houses
have been partially damaged due
to heavy wind and rain. In
Sindhanur taluk, paddy crops have
been destroyed due to hailstorm.
Koppal
In Koppal, three persons have lost
their lives due to rain-related
mishaps and lightening.
Hailstorm has destroyed
horticulture and agriculture crops
worth Rs 10 crore in three taluks of
the district.
The horticulture crops that have
been destroyed include banana,
grapes, pomegranate, mango and
sapota.
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