Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, May 26: The toll of casualties in Karnataka state due to heavy pre-monsoon rainfall has touched 46 within a span of a month, with an additional count of over 400 domestic animals. The state disaster management centre warns that these figures may escalate in the coming days.

As of May 23, out of the 46 fatalities, 35 resulted from lightning strikes, seven from drowning, and four from compound wall collapses. Among the animal fatalities, 246 were sheep, goats, and calves, with most succumbing to lightning strikes.

According to weather expert Sai Shekhar, "Summer rains, pre-monsoon, and post-monsoon rains are accompanied by heavy thunder and lightning. Information has been disseminated to the public, but most of them do not heed the warnings, leading to such incidents."

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The current year has witnessed a surge in casualties compared to the past five years, with the fatalities during this period not exceeding 20 in the past three years. Even the cattle fatalities remained below 200 in previous years.

Rural areas, particularly rural Bengaluru, have borne the brunt, with 40 animal deaths reported within a month. Other affected regions include Vijayapura (28), Tumakuru (20), Davanagere (25), Koppala (21), and Gadag (21). Among human casualties, Bidar reported four deaths, Kalaburagi five, Koppal five, Vijayapura four, and Dakshina Kannada two.

Social worker R D Bangera emphasised, "So far, monsoon rains have not commenced, yet so many lives have been lost. This indicates a lack of public awareness regarding safety measures during lightning and thunder. Disaster management authorities should focus on educating the public. District-level committees, under the DC, have resources for spreading awareness, but they are often underutilised."

The recent spike in fatalities underscores the urgent need for enhanced public awareness and proactive measures to mitigate the risks associated with extreme weather events. It is imperative for authorities and communities to collaborate in implementing measures that bolster preparedness and resilience against such natural calamities.