As many as 31 people have been killed due to lightning strikes and unseasonal rains across the state in the last two weeks.
According to official sources, of the 31 people killed since April 11, 16 died in the last five days. Eight people also suffered burn injuries from lightning and 52 cattle died in the last two weeks.
Six people died in Tumkur, five in Gadag, three each in Hassan and Chikmagalur, two each in Raichur, Kodagu and Bellary and one each in Koppal, Bidar, Ramnagaram and Belgaum because of unseasonal rain and lightning recently. Nearly 52 houses were also damaged, sources said.
According to Revenue Department sources, 56 people have died in rain-related incidents and 803 cattle have perished since January this year.
Standing crops were also destroyed in over 2,08,547 hectares in the state and over 125 taluks have been declared drought-hit.
The state government had spent over `435.53 crore on drought relief and another `330.32 crore has been released to the Deputy Commissioners in all districts, sources said.