Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 19: 

Rain, which had played truant since several days, appeared in full force at Sullia on Sunday October 18. The taluk received heavy rain accompanied by thunder a lightening

Puttur, Kadaba, and parts of Beltangady also got good rain. Karkala taluk experienced some rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. Almost the entire coastal belt experienced cloudy weather on Sunday evening.

A woman lost his life after having been struck by lightning on Sunday evening at Yarlapady in Karkala taluk. She has been identified as Leela Poojary (44), wife of Sudhakar Poojary from Bailakere in Yarlapady. On Sunday evening, Leela was walking towards house from the family's agricultural fields with a load of freshly harvested paddy stalks on her head, when she collapsed due to lightning and lost life on the spot. It is learnt that it had been decided to suspend the work of carrying paddy sheaves to the courtyard of the house because of sudden rain, and the bundle on her head was the last one for the day.

Other agricultural labourers were a little distance away from the victim, and hence, had providential escape. As Leela had died instantly, nothing could be done to save her. Those who rushed to her rescue were surprised at the fact that even the 'Mangalya' worn around her neck had melted in the incident.

Wiring of the house of Pradeep Kanangi in Hirgana village near Karkala was also burnt down due to lightning. Loss in this incident has been calculated at Rs 50,000.

Tahsildar, Raghavendra S, visited the spot.