A deadly fire erupted on a moving double-decker sleeper bus along the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway Wednesday night, leaving two passengers dead and 29 others with severe injuries, police said. The blaze, which broke out at 8:30 pm, plunged the bus into a blazing inferno, leaving those on board scrambling for survival.

Those injured were admitted to Gurugram’s Civil Hospital in Sector 10.

“All injured have suffered 30 to 50 per cent burns but are stable,” a doctor at the hospital said. 

The incident took place on the main expressway connecting Delhi and Jaipur, near the Jharsa flyover.

“Three fire engines were rushed to the spot after we received information that a sleeper bus with registration number AR 01 K 7707 had caught fire on the carriageway,” Fire Department Deputy Director Gulshan Kalra told news agency PTI.

Horrifying visuals from the incident showed the bus engulfed in flames, with plumes of smoke rising into the night sky.

Residents of Tamil Nadu’s Madurai are grappling with a disconcerting issue as thick, toxic foam has been steadily accumulating on a road near the airport. This persistent foam, which has been observed over the past few days, has alarmingly spilled over into an irrigation tank, sparking fears of widespread contamination.

Tamil Nadu was drenched in torrential rains, with the southern districts bearing the brunt of heavy downpours on Thursday as the Northeast Monsoon gained strength.

Madurai and Thoothukudi were submerged under a deluge of water from heavy rains, while landslides were reported in other parts of the state. As heavy rains persisted in Coimbatore, a landslide disrupted traffic on the road near Kunjappa-Panai.

Similarly, a landslide on the Mettupalayam highway in Kotagiri Mettupalayam led to mudslides and fallen trees. An additional landslide affected the third bend leading from Kotagiri to Mettupalayam, causing traffic disruptions. Government services are actively engaged in removing the debris and ensuring the safety of motorists.

In the wake of the torrential rainfall and subsequent flooding, school authorities in several districts, encompassing four taluks in the Nilgiris district, as well as Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Tiruppur, and Coimbatore districts, announced a school holiday for today.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has predicted isolated heavy rainfall across the state.

Australian surfer Laura Enever has made history by officially breaking the world record for the largest wave ever paddled into by a woman. The 31-year-old surfed a monstrous 13.3-meter (43.6-foot) wave at Outer Reef on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, earlier this year. The wave, which was measured and verified by the World Surf League and Guinness World Records, dwarfed the previous record of 12.2 metres set by Andrea Moller in 2016.

According to Guinness World Records, for pro-athletes like Laura, who have dedicated their lives to the world of watersports, riding to such heights can be life-changing. Many wait all their lives for the chance to meet the wave; some of them, as is the case of Laura, are destined to make history.

“Laura is fearless, committed, and a real inspiration,” declared Jessi Miley-Dyer, World Surf League Chief of Sport. “And I’m so proud to celebrate her.”

“The WSL Big Wave Record Chase, which we introduced last season, has really allowed us to shine the spotlight on athletes like Laura who are pushing the boundaries of big wave surfing.”

Laura Enever expressed her pride in surpassing Andrea Moller’s record and her commitment to pushing the boundaries of big-wave surfing.

“And I know that the next girls, the next generation of female big wave surfers, are going to do the same,” Laura told GWR.

“I would never be in this position if it weren’t for all the big wave surfers who have come before me and paved the way, especially the really brave, courageous females who have always inspired me and made me feel like I could get out there and give it a crack,” Laura declared to the WSL.

The world record for the largest wave ever paddled into by a man belongs to American surfer Aaron Gold. He rode a massive 19.2-metre wave at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii, in 2016. The record has yet to be broken.