Belthangady: A heavy storm swept through Maladi and Sonandur in the Belthangady taluk on Friday, causing extensive damage. The wind, which began in the morning, intensified by the evening, resulting in widespread destruction.

The Shantidhama Ashram in Maladi suffered significant damage, with the roof of the building completely destroyed. Fortunately, all occupants of the ashram escaped unharmed.

Reports indicate that approximately 11 houses in Maladi and Sonandur were damaged due to the heavy winds. Numerous trees were uprooted, and agricultural damage, particularly to nut trees, was extensive. Detailed information about the agricultural losses is yet to be ascertained.

Under the leadership of Puneeth Kumar, the president of Maladi Gram Panchayat, an emergency relief operation was conducted in the affected areas, clearing the fallen trees. The effort was supported by former president Baby Suvarna, Development Officer Rajasekhara Rai, Secretary Gunakara Hegde, Gram Panchayat member Umesh, and other officials, who visited and inspected the damaged sites.

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Wayanad(Kerala), Nov 23: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday cruised to her maiden electoral victory, from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, with a margin of over 4.1 lakh votes against CPI(M)-led LDF's Sathyan Mokeri, according to figures released by the Election Commission.

Priyanka got 6,22,338 votes which was less than the 6,47,445 votes received by her brother Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha polls in Wayanad in April this year, but her victory margin of 4,10,931 was more than his lead of 3,64,422 votes, despite the decline in turnout in the Wayanad bypoll.

The LS poll turnout in Wayanad, which has over 14 lakh registered voters, was close to 74 per cent in April, but had declined to 65 per cent in the by-election in November.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Wayanad, CPI's Annie Raja had secured second place with 2,83,023 votes, while BJP's K. Surendran finished third with 1,41,045 votes.

However, both fronts were unable to replicate their performance in the bypoll, despite a reduced voter turnout in the hill constituency.

Mokeri got 2,11,407 and BJP-led NDA's Navya Haridas came third with 1,09,939 votes.

Close to the announcement of the final counting results, Priyanka, in a post on social media platform X, thanked the people of Wayanad for electing her as their representative to the Parliament.

"My dearest sisters and brothers of Wayanad, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the trust you have placed in me. I will make sure that over time, you truly feel this victory has been your victory and the person you chose to represent you understands your hopes and dreams and fights for you as one of your own. I look forward to being your voice in Parliament!

"Thank you for giving me this honour and even more for the immense love you have given me," she said.

In her post, Priyanka also thanked her colleagues in the UDF, leaders from across Kerala, workers, volunteers and everyone else who supported her and worked "incredibly hard" in her poll campaign, by "tolerating" her "12 hour a day (no food, no rest) car journeys, and for fighting like true soldiers for the ideals we all believe in".

"To my mother, Robert and my two jewels- Raihan and Miraya, no gratitude is ever enough for the love and courage you give me. And to my brother, Rahul, you are the bravest of them all… thank you for showing me the way and having my back, always," she said in her post on X.