PARTS of India's western state of Gujarat have been hit by heavy rains this week, causing floods, disrupting utilities, and forcing thousands to evacuate. Authorities reported on Thursday that at least 28 people have died, with further heavy rainfall expected.
Army rescue teams have joined efforts to assist those affected, as people wade through waist-deep water, with vehicles and roads partially submerged, according to visuals from Reuters television.
"There has been no electricity for the last two days," said Prabhu Ram Soni, a resident of Jamnagar. "I have an eight-month-old daughter and my mother, who is an asthma patient on oxygen support."
Since Sunday, 28 people have died due to drowning and rain-related incidents, and more than 18,000 people have been evacuated from coastal cities, according to disaster management authorities.
Heavy rains continued in Jamnagar, where the world's largest oil refinery complex, owned by Reliance, is located. The district collector, BK Pandya, told Reuters that the refineries, including another run by Nayara Energy in nearby Vadinar, remain operational. Authorities are currently focused on rescue efforts in the district.
India's weather office has issued warnings for extremely heavy rainfall in Gujarat’s districts of Bharuch, Kutch, and Saurashtra on Thursday, with more heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning expected on Friday.
The rains have been caused by a deep atmospheric depression off the coast of Gujarat, which has also affected the southern coast of neighbouring Pakistan, with its largest city of Karachi lashed by heavy rain.
Officials in Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh warned against torrential rain, rough seas and flooding expected on Thursday, as the weather system moves westwards from India.
After recent heavy rains lashed the port city of Karachi, authorities have warned of flash floods in two districts of Sindh still recovering from 2022 floods that inundated large swathes of the country.
(With inputs from Reuters)
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)