Heavy rains lash parts of Karnataka

Bengaluru, Mar 17 (PTI) Heavy rain accompanied by hailstorm and gusty winds lashed parts of north Karnataka on Tuesday, disrupting normal life, while the state capital also received rainfall, bringing relief from the prevailing heat.
According to officials, in Belagavi, a sudden hailstorm that began around 3:30 pm and lasted for over an hour threw normal life out of gear.
Strong winds toppled two-wheelers and uprooted large roadside hoardings, while tree branches were found scattered across several roads.
The heavy downpour led to a temporary disruption of vehicular movement and daily activities in various parts of the city.
The rainfall, however, brought respite to residents who had been reeling under intense heat.
In Dharwad, heavy rain accompanied by hailstones was reported, with Kalghatgi witnessing an accumulation of hail on roads.
The rainfall, which continued for about an hour in Dharwad, disrupted traffic and affected normal life briefly.
Similarly, Hubballi also witnessed intense rainfall with hail in the afternoon after a cloudy morning, bringing down temperatures and providing relief from the scorching heat.
However, the downpour caused minor traffic disruptions in parts of the city.
In Vijayapura, unseasonal rain accompanied by hailstones was reported in several areas, including Muddebihal. While the rain brought relief to people affected by the heat, farmers expressed concern over possible crop damage due to the hail.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)