In Karnataka, at least 19 people have died in lightning strikes and house collapses triggered by pre-monsoon rains in various parts of the state this week. Officials said in Bangalore that while lightning claimed 14 lives, house collapses due to heavy rains left five persons dead. Five persons working in a farm in Dyvarahalli in Bangalore Rural district died as lightning struck them on Thursday. The Director of Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, V S Prakash said, there are at least 50 lightning-related deaths in the state every year during pre-monsoon months.