Dharwad (Karnataka), March 19 -- What began as an ordinary summer morning in Kalghatgi quickly turned into a scene straight out of a hill-station postcard, as an intense hailstorm on Tuesday draped this Dharwad taluk in an unseasonal blanket of white.
Fields, rooftops and highways disappeared under thick sheets of hail, giving the tropical landscape an uncanny, snow-clad appearance.
For a brief moment, the region resembled a winter retreat rather than a North Karnataka town, with residents stepping out in disbelief to witness - and even revel in - the rare spectacle.
But beneath the visual novelty lay disruption and unease.
The sudden burst of hail, falling with unusual intensity, brought movement to a near halt. Vehicles lined up along...