Heavy rains claim two lives in Karnataka

Heavy rains lashing Karnataka have claimed two lives in the last 24 hours with an autodriver dying on spot when a tree fell on his auto here today while one person washed away in flash floods in Bellary district yesterday.He was washed away after release of water from Narahalli reservoir last night led to submersion of a field at Kuruvekoppa village where four others who were trapped were rescued by the National Disaster Relief Force, official sources said.With more than 27,000 cusecs of water dishcharged from Narihalla yesterday consequent to heavy rains, four villageswere inundated and several agricultural fields in Kuruvekoppavillage submerged, the sources said.Water logging was reported from low lying areas including Ejipura, Bilekahalli, Mahadeapura and Bommanahalli.In a last ditch effort to save their lives, six persons perched themselved atop a hut. However they were rescued by helicopter pressed into service by district administration, officials said.Meanwhile, a chopper of NDRF rescued four persons who hadperched atop the tree. Two others came down on their own, official sources said.

Tourism minister G Janardhana Reddy, who is also in-chargeof Bellary district, visited the marooned villages, the sources said.