Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)
Karkala, Apr 13: It rained heavily in Karkala and surrounding areas on the evening of Sunday April 12. Lightning claimed three lives in the area while four more have been admitted to hospital with lightning-related injuries.
Suprabha (18), daughter of the late Kumaraswamy living at Jarkala Junction of Erlappady village in the taluk, Bharati (19), daughter of Raju Muggera, a resident of Mujoor Muggerkla Garadi and Devamma (48), wife of Anni Gowda from Kervashe Kontaladka Hekunje were the unfortunate women to have breathed their last in a tragic manner.
Suprabha was a first year BBM student of the local Sri Bhuvanendra College while Bharati was an employee of a cashew factory. They were inside their houses when lightning struck. Devamma was going towards agricultural fields to wash clothes when she lost life due to lightning.
Sushant, brother of Suprabha was injured and her mother and grandmother experienced shocks in the incident and have been admitted to hospital. Ashwita, daugther of Bharati's sister, complained of losing control over her legs. All the four have been out of danger and are recuperating in the hospital.
All the three families affected by the lightning are very poor. Suprabha was a brilliant student and was leading a life of penury with two brothers, mother and grand mother. Her mother works as labourer to feed the family. Bharati's parents too worked on daily wage basis. Devamma, who hailed from Beltangaldy, was eking out a living by working as agricultural labourer.
MLA H Gopal Bhandary, tahsildar Achuta and several other leaders visited the spots. Almost the entire taluk received rain for about an hour, coupled with lightning. The lightning was particularly intense in Bailoor, Kervashe, Hosmar and Karkala.
Elsewhere in Puttur, three women, Seetavati, Hemavati and Shambhavi, residing in Meeramangala located in the town outskirts, were injured due to lightning that struck their home on Sunday. All the three were admitted to Puttur Hospital. The lightning caused heavy damage to walls and wiring of their home.
Most of the other parts of the twin-districts experienced either drizzling or cloudy weather. Even though the rain and windy conditions provided some relief from the heat, those who were on a visit to the districts to enjoy the summer holiday season, had to cancel their plans due to the sudden appearance of the rain god.