Sudden downpour, accompanied by strong winds, that lashed several parts of the state on Friday, threw life out of gear for a while and brought welcome respite from the sweltering heat.
Losses to property and crop were reported across the state and the rains also halted traffic, besides uprooting trees and damaging electric poles. In several places, storm water drains overflowed onto roads.
Though the day began on a sunny note in Hubli, menacing rain clouds hovered above the cityscape by noon. The unexpected downpour that lasted for an hour saw several people scrambling for cover.
At Kalyan Nagar, a huge tree fell on a goods vehicle, crushing its front end. The tree also fell on a power line, uprooting electric poles and causing power outages in parts of the city.
Hubli Electricity Supply Company (HESCOM) executive engineer V B Patil said complaints of uprooted trees were received from Vidyanagar, Unkal and the timber yard.
Though it was very cloudy in Dharwad, there was only a slight drizzle in some places.
The rain also brought down mercury levels which were hovering between 36-40 degree Celsius since the last month, to around 23 degree Celsius on Friday.
Rain and Hailstorm in Some Parts
Chitradurga: Thunder and hailstorms lashed Bharamasagara hobli in the district on Friday evening. Heavy rain, that lashed the village for 30 minutes, inundated drains and roads. The hailstones measured 4-6 mm.
The rain spelt relief for farmers and others facing drinking water shortage. Hiriyur town received rain on Thursday night.