Monsoon rains kill 12 in India's Gujarat state

INDIA: Heavy monsoon rains in India's western state of Gujarat have killed at least 12 people and forced thousands to evacuate their homes and move to higher ground, officials said on Sunday.

The deaths were due to drowning, lighting strikes and building collapses, they said. More than 15,000 villagers have been affected since Friday in the southern and central regions of one of India's most prosperous and industrialised states.

"We are taking every precautionary measure to ensure the safety of people as heavy rains have been forecast for the next 48 hours," D. A. Satya, a senior relief official, said.

AHMEDEBAD, Sunday, Reuters