More than 400 properties have been left without power after an electrical substation in the centre of Exeter was ravaged in a huge fire.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene off Fore Street on Sunday.

Several people were evacuated from nearby properties as crews attempted to battle the blaze shortly after 6am.

Video footage showed large clouds of grey smoke billowing out the top of the building.

Four properties were left damaged by the fire as well as the external substation.

The National Grid said 405 homes were without power on Sunday morning. Power had been restored to 491 homes.

Power is only expected to be fully restored on Monday at 12am.

Riverside Leisure Centre has been created as a respite centre for displaced residents.

Several people were evacuated from nearby properties as crews attempted to battle the blaze

Four properties were left damaged by the fire as well as the external substation

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene off Fore Street shortly after 6am on Sunday

In a post on X, the fire service said the blaze is ‘causing lots of smoke in the area’.

It added: ‘Please keep your windows and doors closed if you live in the area.

‘You may also experience some disruption to your electricity supply.’

Six fire engines and a command support unit from Honiton have been sent to the scene.

The cause of the fire is unconfirmed.

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New Delhi [India], May 11 (ANI): The Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) headquarters in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, was among the hardest hit in India’s precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, sources said.

“Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters at Bahawalpur(Pakistan) was hit the hardest, most potent weapon was used. Jaish-e-Mohammed was created by ISI. It was an important message by India,” sources said.

There were no talks between the National Security Advisors and the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan. There were only talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries, source added.

This comes amid tensions between India and Pakistan following the Indian Armed Forces’ launch of Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, targeting 9 terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK).

This operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including one Nepali national.

Following India’s operation, the conflict between India and Pakistan deepened, which resulted in increased cross-border shelling from Pakistan and retaliatory action from the Indian Armed Forces.

Areas across the border were set up on high alert and there were blackouts whenever attacks from Pakistan took place.

However, both countries agreed to a cessation of hostilities on May 10 when US President Donald Trump, on his Truth Social, announced a “ceasefire” between India and Pakistan.

On Saturday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that Pakistan‘s Director General of Military Operations contacted his Indian counterpart earlier this and the two sides agreed to halt all military actions–on land, at sea, and in the air–effective from 1700 hours IST.

Misri noted that instructions have been issued to enforce the ceasefire, with another round of DGMO-level talks scheduled for May 12 at noon.

However, hours after both countries agreed to stop all firing and military action on land, in the air, and sea, reports came of Pakistan violating the cessation of hostilities with India’s air defence intercepting Pakistani drones amid a blackout in Srinagar.

Red streaks were seen and explosions heard as India’s air defence intercepted Pakistani drones amid a blackout in Udhampur. A blackout was also enforced in Pathankot and Ferozepur in Punjab and Jaisalmer and Barmer in Rajasthan.

In a significant twist of events, a Nigerian journalist, Francess Olisa Ogbonnaya, has come forward with allegations against United Kingdom-based Nigerian businesswoman, Sandra Duru aka Prof Mgbeke, who has been involved in the controversy surrounding Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Duru came into the spotlight recently after she claimed that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly attempted to induce her with N200 million to falsely accuse the former Akwa Ibom governor of organ harvesting.

Although Senator Natasha has since denied the allegation, it has continued to generate mixed reactions.

But in a now-viral video, a female journalist, Francess Ogbonnaya accused Sandra of attempting to hire her to produce a voiceover that would damage Senator Natasha’s reputation.

Olisa claims that Sandra provided her with audio recordings and a script that contained defamatory content. She, however, refused to produce the voiceover, citing her profession as a journalist and her plans to run for office.

“She wanted me to disrupt and destroy Natasha at the TV station she wanted me to go to on her behalf but not be neutral. I refused because I am a journalist and have plans to run for office like I did before, so I cannot do it,” Olisa said.

Olisa alleged that Sandra wanted to use the voiceover to spread false information about Senator Natasha, including claims that she wanted to bring down the Yoruba government, which Olisa queried.

“How can a Kogi; Igbira who are minority with no alliances and even tilted to the Yorubas now say that? A Kogi person is a minority in Nigeria, so what will she gain by fighting the Yoruba government?” Olisa questioned.

Ogbonnaya disputed Sandra Duru’s claims about Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s statements on sexual harassment.

“Sandra lied about it (sexual harassment claim). In the audios she sent to me, Senator Natasha never mentioned anything about there being no sexual harassment,” Ogbonnaya clarified.

According to her, the audio recordings actually suggested experiences of sexual harassment.

“She mentioned in the audio that sometimes when they go out, the big man will say ‘you look good today’,” she added.

Ogbonnaya further questioned the authenticity of any potential audio release by Sandra Duru.

“If Sandra releases anything like that, she cloned it. In the original audios she sent to me, there was nothing like that (denial of sexual harassment claim). The woman (Natasha) never said there was no sexual abuse; she was even highlighting experiences that suggest sexual harassment,” Ogbonnaya alleged.

Regarding Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Ogbonnaya denied that Senator Natasha said she bought the former minister.

Ogbonnaya asserted that the audio recordings showed Senator Natasha thanking God for Dr Ezekwesili’s support and discussing her efforts to address issues affecting women.

Olisa also claims that Sandra has been involved in blackmailing and manipulating others, including Governor Hope Uzodinma and his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha.

“Sandra even told me that she made Rochas a governor!!! She was blackmailing the man. She blackmailed Hope (Imo governor) through the commissioner for international affairs,” Olisa alleged.

When asked if Sandra paid her, Olisa replied, “Yes! Political audio is 500k, she priced 300k! I removed the places that could implicate us. She got angry that I removed her lies. She rejected the audio and refused to use my voice, so she went to someone else.”

Olisa, however, urged the police to investigate the matter, saying “Let the police do their job.”

She also warned Senator Akpabio to be wary of Sandra’s shady character.

“I’m telling Akpabio to be wary of her. I can’t ascertain if she is working with Natasha or Akpabio. Sandra is the one I know.”

“The evidence I have sent to you now are a tip of the iceberg… If she wants us to release conversations, I am ready. Especially the big names she mentioned there. Let her remember that,” she concluded.