Rains hit India and Pakistan, evacuating thousands
Authorities warned of further heavy rains on Thursday after heavy rains flooded parts of India's western Gujarat state, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes and causing utility lines to be cut. At least 28 people were killed.
Television images showed that the army has joined in on the relief effort as people wade through waist-high water which had partially submerged roads and vehicles.
Prabhu Soni, a resident of the coastal city Jamnagar, said that there had been no electricity for two days. "I have a eight-month old daughter and my mother is an asthmatic who needs oxygen support."
Disaster management officials reported that 28 people died since Sunday from drowning or rain-related causes. More than 18,000 people were evacuated from coastal cities.
B K Pandya told the district collector that heavy rains continued to fall in Jamnagar. The city is home to Reliance's world-largest oil refinery.
Nayara Energy operates a refinery in Vadinar. It is backed by Russian companies, including Rosneft - the country's largest oil producer.
Pandya replied, "They are operational" when asked if the rain had affected the work at the refineries. He added that the authorities were concentrating on rescue efforts in this district.
India's Weather Office has warned that extremely heavy rainfall is forecast for Gujarat's districts Bharuch Kutch Saurashtra on Thursday, and heavy rain, thunder and lightning are expected on Friday.
A deep atmospheric depression, off the coasts of Gujarat and Pakistan, has caused the rains. Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, was also pounded by heavy rainfall.
Sindh officials in Pakistan's south warned of torrential rainfall, rough seas, and flooding on Thursday as a weather system moved westwards from India.
Authorities have warned that flash floods could occur in two districts in Sindh, still recovering from the 2022 floods which inundated large areas of the country. Reporting by Sumit Khandikar in Islamabad, and Charlotte Greenfield from Ahmedabad. Writing by Shilpa Jakhandikar. Editing by Clarence Fernandez.
(source: Reuters)
