Rain lashes Hassan, crops damaged

HASSAN: Heavy rains that lashed parts of the district for over four hours on Wednesday night, threw normal life out of gear, besides damaging crops in Sakleshpur and Arkalgud taluks. Torrential rains accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorm caught the villagers of Hanbal, Hettur and Yesalur hoblies unawares. Standing crops, including coffee, pepper, cardamom and plantain were partially damaged. Paddy saplings in over 50 acres have been submerged at Sakleshpur.Late reports reaching here reveal that the roof tiles and cement sheets of the houses in parts of Yesalur were blown away by strong winds. Several electrical poles and roadside trees were uprooted at various places.At Ramanathapura, Keragodu and adjacent villages in Arkalgud taluk, roof tiles and asbestos sheets of over 50 houses were blown off.Tobacco and mango crop in over 50 acres were destroyed.Senior officials and engineers of the respective Cescom offices visited the affected villages on Thursday to assess the damage.