At least 28 people have died and thousands have fled their homes after heavy rains led to severe flooding in Gujarat, with a new weather warning issued for the coastal west Indian state.
Almost 30,000 people have been moved to higher ground in the past three days as rivers burst their banks and floodwater entered houses in several low-lying areas, state health minister Rushikesh Patel said.
Some areas are under more than 3.5 metres of water, Mr Patel said, as locals reported a crocodile straying into a residential area in one of the state's biggest cities.
Gujarat, on the Arabian Sea coast, is a dry and arid region but has suffered heavy rain due to a cyclonic disturbance in the sea that has led to flooding.
The India Meteorological Department has issued an alert for extreme weather in at least a dozen districts of the state.
It has also predicted the formation of a cyclone over the Arabian Sea near Kutch and adjoining districts in Gujarat, and near Pakistan's coast on Friday.
Deaths have been reported in at least 15 districts of Gujarat. While 13 people have died from drowning, several were killed as houses and trees collapsed.
Mr Patel said he had not seen such condition in 20 years.
Several parts of India are experiencing heavy rainfall due to the monsoon season. From southern to northern regions, many of the country's rivers are overflowing.
Delhi suffered heavy rainfall on Thursday that led to severe waterlogging and traffic jams. Three people, including a 15-year-old boy, died.
The city has experienced 23 rainy days in August, the highest for the month in 14 years, according to the weather office.
In the north-eastern state of Tripura, at least 31 people have died with more than 117,000 displaced since August 19, the state government said. More than 72,000 people have been moved to nearly 500 relief camps.
Heavy rainfall, floods and waterlogging has created an estimated loss of 15 billion rupees for the state in infrastructure, properties and crops.
Fourteen people were flown to safety in a rescue operation in Gujarat's Porbandar district on Wednesday. Heavy rain and the release of water from the Bhadar Dam left villages resembling islands.
Authorities have sent seven army platoons, each with 50 soldiers, to join nearly 40 teams of rescue and relief workers.
Videos showed widespread flooding in several locations, with rescue workers evacuating stranded people.
Vadodara, the cultural capital of Gujarat, is one of the worst affected cities, where four army platoons have been sent, authorities said.
The Vishwamitri River overflowed “above 34 feet (10 metres), well above the danger mark of 25 feet (7.6 metres)” and flooded the city, Bijal Shah, the district's top official, told the media. Wildlife rescuers were called out after a crocodile was seen strolling along a road, according to reports.
“As a precautionary measure, the local administration has shifted more than 3,000 people from low-lying areas to safer places,” he said.
A portion of a small bridge collapsed and a wall of Rajkot International Airport reportedly fell due to heavy rainfall on Thursday.
The downpour has caused extensive damage to crops, local media reported.
Officials on Wednesday said the power supply to 11,000 villages in Gujarat had been affected. State chief minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed rescue and relief efforts in the affected areas.
“The priority of the state government is to provide food packets, drinking water pouches, and healthcare medicines to the people who are trapped in the flood until the water recedes,” Mr Patel said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is from the state, said the central government would provide all the support needed.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Pakistan World Cup squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez(subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain
Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
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Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Third-place play-off: New Zealand v Wales, Friday, 1pm
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
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The five pillars of Islam
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
