Lightning strikes kill 94 in Karnataka

Bengaluru: As many as 94  people across the state have been killed in lightning strikes between April 1 and June 10, according to Industries Minister, R.V. Deshpande.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with revenue department officials here on Monday, he said in all 104 people had died in the rain. Besides those hit by lightning, 10 were washed away in floods.

The government had released compensation of Rs 4.16 crore to the families of the deceased. While each family got Rs 4 lakh , farmers who lost 232 livestock in the rain, were given compensation of Rs 20,000 each, he said,

With the rain partially damaging 2101 houses and leading to 189 house collapses,  the government had distributed, Rs 95,000 each to those who lived in the latter and Rs 5, 200 as compensation to those who lived in the former, Mr. Deshpande added, assuring that there was no fund crunch for distributing the compensation.

“There are enough funds in the DCs’ account with Rs 186 crore deposited in them. Also, Rs 3.20 crore is available with the state Disaster Management Cell. I have directed the DCs to utilize these funds for relief work,” the Minister said.

With the  state receiving heavy rain, the  department had already started on   relief work in the affected districts, he revealed. “Survey is going on to assess the crop loss due to the floods. Once it is completed, the state will submit a detailed report to the Centre for financial assistance to take up more relief work,” he added.