1 killed in lightning strike as hailstorm, rain batter Latur & parts of Marathwada

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A 60-year-old farmer from in Latur's Udgir taluka died after being struck by lightning as a hailstorm and unseasonal rain lashed parts of Marathwada on Monday.The deceased has been identified as Digambar Ram Belkunde, a resident of Vaygaon village in Udgir taluka.Some kutcha houses in a few villages in Renapur and Ahmedpur talukas of Latur district were partially damaged in the rain, which also took a toll on standing crops including wheat, chickpea and sorghum in parts of the region.Besides Latur, parts of Hingoli and Beed districts also reported unseasonal rainfall. Chhatrapati Sambhajingar, Nanded and other districts in the region witnessed partly cloudy skies with no rainfall activity till Monday night.Latur district guardian minister Shivendra Raje Bhosale has ordered panchanamas of damage due to hailstorm and rain in the district.With chances of unseasonal rain and hailstorms for the next few days, the Latur district administration has appealed to people, especially those in rural areas, to take necessary precautions.Shrinivas Aundhkar, the director of the MGM APJ Abdul Kalam Astrospace Science Centre and Club here, said daytime heating formed convective clouds that, in turn, offered scattered rainfall activity along with hailstorms. "The chances of unseasonal rain and hailstorms are likely in parts of Marathwada for the next few days," he said.