Karnataka rains led to three lightning deaths in Kalaburagi and Belagavi districts, while another person was seriously injured, according to a report by Prajavani. Two women died while taking shelter under a tree during a sudden downpour in a field in Kalaburagi, and a farmer was killed while guarding a maize harvest in Belagavi.
The first incident occurred in Nagoor village of Kamalapur taluk in Kalaburagi district. Lakshmi Basayya Guttedar, 45, the wife of the field owner, and Saijadabi Fatrusab, 60, who had gone to the field as a wage worker, were working in a tur dal crop when the lightning struck.
According to eyewitnesses cited in the report, around seven to eight women were removing weeds from the tur dal field. They sat under a tree during their lunch break, and heavy rain began suddenly. The group reportedly stayed under the tree for shelter when thunder and lightning struck. The two women died, while the others escaped injury.
The second fatal incident was reported from Srirangapur village in Yaragatti taluk of Belagavi district. Kedaarappa Mallappa Gurlahosur, 47, from Madlur village, died at the spot after lightning struck late on Sunday night. His relative, Bheemappa Kedaarappa Gurlahosur, 45, sustained serious injuries.
The two men had gone to their field to guard a pile of maize. The report said moderate rain accompanied by thunder and lightning was falling while they were keeping watch. Lightning struck as they guarded the harvested crop, killing Kedaarappa at the site. Bheemappa was taken to the Dharwad district hospital for treatment.
Police Sub-Inspector L. B. Mali, who visited the site, confirmed that Bheemappa had been admitted to the hospital, according to the report. The incidents underline the exposure of agricultural workers and farmers to sudden thunderstorms while working in open fields or seeking shelter outdoors.
The rain across several northern Karnataka districts has been attributed in the report to a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal. The reported deaths occurred during field work and overnight crop protection, leaving the immediate circumstances of both incidents tied to outdoor agricultural activity during thunderstorms.
