MYSURU/ KALABURAGI: As many as seven people died in the state after being struck by lightning on Thursday.Six people were killed and four were injured after lightning struck them at Nandinathapura in Periyapatna taluk on Thursday. They were grazing cattle in a field when it started raining around 1.30 pm. They rushed to a nearby temple to take shelter when lightning struck them, killing three people on the spot. The temple was also damaged.
Passersby, who saw the incident, rushed the villagers to a hospital. Three more people died on the way to the hospital. The deceased are H B Sudeep (18), Sujay (20), Umesh (25), Suvarnamma (50), Puttegowda (60) and Thimmegowda (65), all from Hunasawadi in Periyapatna taluk. The injured were later moved to a Myrusu hospital. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah annou nced a compensation of `5 lakh for the kin of each of victim. Periyapatna police have registered a case.Another person died in Jettur village of Chincholi taluk, Kalaburagi, after lightning struck him on Thursday. The deceased is Maisappa Madar (24). His body was handed over to his family after postmortem.