Man dies as thunderstorm hurtles ACC sheets on him in Bangalore

Pre-monsoon showers on Sunday claimed one more life in the city, just a week after three people died in heavy rains. A street vendor, 55, died as ACC sheets came crashing down on him along with bricks meant to hold them in place. The sheets flew off the third floor of the man’s neighbour’s house. The incident occurred at Anepalya, within Ashoknagar police station limits.

The deceased, street vendor Dawood Khan, had come home for lunch at around 3.30 pm. He had only just stepped out to watch the rain, when ACC sheets crashed on him.

Khan’s neighbour, Mohammed Mudabir, had built a three-storey building, and ACC sheets that served as the roof of the third floor came loose in the wind, and went flying, along with loose bricks. Just as Khan stepped out of his house, the sheet and bricks landed on him. He suffered injury in the head, and died on the spot.

Ashoknagar police, alerted about the incident by neighbours, rushed to the spot. The body was shifted to a hospital for post-mortem examination. The police registered a case. Newly elected mayor of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, Sharadamma, has announced that Rs1 lakh would be given to Khan’s family as compensation.

On Sunday, as strong winds and rain lashed many parts of South Bangalore, areas along Mysore Road saw hailstorm. “I was in a bus, and was surprised by the hail. However, the hailstorm only lasted 20 minutes,” said Giridhar M, a resident of Girinagar. Hanumantanagar and Avalahalli also received hailstorm.