Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jun 7: After lightning struck a house at Balladi Kallumura near Shirva Marigudi some distance away from Katapadi in the taluk on the night of Monday, June 5, the house suffered heavy damage.

The house in question belongs to Krishna Acharya, a blacksmith by profession, and his wife, Girija. At around 9.30 pm, lightning struck their home with a deafening sound, resulting in huge cracks in two walls of their house. The tiles and wooden beams of the roof of their cattle shed too were damaged.

The cracks appearing in the main walls of the house have given rise to fear about the house crashing to the ground. The house has been thoroughly damaged, and loss of about four to five lac rupees has been estimated.

Wiring of Acharya's house was burnt and electric and electronic equipment including television set and fans have suffered damages. The couple and their two children, however, escaped unhurt.

Krishna Acharya's family is poor, and he alone has been looking after the family by working as blacksmith. Zilla panchayat member, Wilson Rodrigues, gram panchayat president, Varija Poojary, panchayat development officer, Malati etc visited the spot and promised to make alternative arrangements for the  family's stay elsewhere within a couple of days.