Governor announces Rs one lakh compensation to rain death victims

Bangalore, Mar 24 (UNI) Unseasonale heavy rains lashing Karnataka for the past five days has claimed 13 lives and Governor Rameshwar Thakur today announced a compensation of Rs one lakh each the next of kin of those died.

The Governor said in a communication that certain districts of the state had been experiencing heavy rains from March 20 and some districts had suffered loss of human life apart from animal deaths, crop loss and damage to houses.

"Thirteen persons have lost their lives and mostly due to lightning, house collapse or drowning," he said.

He reviewed the situation along with his Advisors and senior officers and said compensation should be paid expeditiously.

The unprecedented rainfall has destroyed standing crops of jowar, paddy, coffee and banana.

In Gulbarga district, state highways have suffered damages and several houses were in water.

The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next two days in many parts of the state due to low pressure in the Arabian sea.

Fishermen in coastal districts have stayed away from fishing due to the inclement weather.

Since last five days Karkala in Dakshina Kannada received 318 mm, followed by Bantwal in the same district 254 mm. While in Raichur and Gulbarga the death toll were put at four each, the death was two in Belgaum, one each in Dharwad, Bijapur and Udupi. UNI RS-MV MSP HVB2059