Page 103 - Disaster Accident
ONGC restores operations off east coast after cyclone Fani makes landfall
State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) Friday restored operations at its fields in the Bay of Bengal after a category-4 cyclone made landfall without causing any disruption to its offshore installations. Official sources said ONGC had as a precaution halted operations, evacuated some 500 employees and towed rigs to safer waters ahead of the cyclone. While cyclone Fani made landfall around Puri in Odisha and is moving towards West Bengal, most of ONGC installations are off the Andhra coast. Sources said all operations have been restored and employees are being moved by boats to installations. There is no loss of production, they said. India's eastern coast is dotted with oil and gas installations, including three refineries and numerous rigs and offshore platforms that are used to explore and produce oil and gas. While operations at Paradip port in Odisha and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh were shut and ships moved out to sea to avoid damage, the refineries operated ...
Flood relief:Cong leader slams LDF govt's 'lackadaisical'
Opposition Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala Friday hit out at the State government's alleged lackadaisical attitude in taking action over various complaints he had submitted on flood relief and said he would approach the High Court for relief. The leader of the Opposition in the state assembly had collected and submitted to various district collectors, complaints of people from various flood-hit districts with regard to flood relief. In a release, Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the collectors have not taken any action on about 10,000 complaints that he had collected from various taluks in the state. "The complaints handed over were from ten taluks spreading over six flood-affected districts of the state. Those flood victims, when they approach the district collectors for knowing the status of their complaints, are treated badly," he said. The congress leader also said he plans to approach the high court pointing out that even after three months havepassed after ...
Indian, Pakistan army trade fire on LoC in Poonch
Indian and Pakistan army traded fire on the Line of Control on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.
Meghalaya braces for Cyclone Fani
The Meghalaya government has sought deployment of a platoon of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in the state in view of Cyclone Fani, officials said Friday. The extremely severe cyclonic storm made landfall in Odisha on Friday morning. It is gradually heading towards West Bengal and from there it is likely to move towards the north-east, the officials said. One NDRF platoon, comprising 25 to 30 personnel, has been sought from Guwahati, Meghalaya Revenue and Disaster Minister Kyrmen Shylla said. The IMD has warned of thundersquall accompanied with gusty winds and heavy rains for the next 48 hours across the northeastern states, including Meghalaya. "We have requested the NDRF to deploy at least one platoon at the state capital. The NDRF personnel would assist the state in case of any emergency," Shylla told PTI. The officials of all the 11 districts have been asked to be on alert, the minister said, adding, all officers, including those posted in various blocks, have been ...
Cyclone Fani sends people home early, city wears deserted look
The main business districts of the city wore a deserted look by Friday afternoon as the fear of devastation by the severe cyclonic storm Fani sent the people to the safety of their homes. People who had gone out for work in the morning wrapped up their schedule as fast as possible, while many schools declared a holiday. The met department has forecast heavy to very heavy rains in most places of south Bengal, with extremely heavy falls at one or two places. The wind velocity is likely to touch 60 km per hour in the city and adjoining districts on Friday, the weatherman said. Gale wind speed reaching 90 to 100 kmph, gusting to 115 kmph is very likely along and off West Bengal coast from midnight, while in the interior parts the wind speed may reach upto 80 kmph, according to the Met department. Eastern and South Eastern Railway cancelled several trains to prevent any injury to passengers or damage to railway property. "As a precautionary measure keeping in view the safety
Coastal Andhra escapes 'Fani' fury
Coastal Andhra Pradesh escaped the fury of extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Fani', which hit Odisha coast near Puri on Friday, officials said.
World Bank gives $545 million for cyclone-hit southern Africa
The World Bank will extend more than half-a-billion dollars in grants for cyclone-ravaged southern African countries, its chief announced Friday as he concluded a visit to Mozambique, the worst affected country. A total of up to USD 545 million will be disbursed to Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi - the three countries hit by Cyclone Idai in March. "Cyclone Idai caused catastrophic damage earlier this year that affected millions of people," the Bank's group president, David Malpass, said after he visited the central city of Beira. "And this tragedy has been compounded by Cyclone Kenneth," another cyclone that hit Mozambique six weeks later. Cyclone Idai devastated the port city of Beira and its surrounding areas when it hit on March 14, causing huge floods and killing more than 600 people. Weeks later a fresh massive storm, Cyclone Kenneth, lashed the northern coastal regions of Mozambique, 1,000 kilometres from Beira, and killed 41 people. Mozambique, which received USD 350 million ..
Three people killed due to cyclone Fani: NDRF DG
Three people have been killed as cyclone Fani lashed the Odisha coast bringing in its wake widespread destruction and damage to public property."The damage (caused due to the cyclone) were on expected lines. As per the information received from the state government, three people have died. The casualties occurred due to the damage caused to buildings," Pradhan said while talking to ANI.He also said that the damaged caused by the cyclone has been minimal while crediting the people for it."Although, we will get more information but as of now minimal damage has been reported. The credit for this goes to people because they understood that they have to go to higher places (cyclone shelters). First, I want to thank the people and second I would tell them, don't panic," said Pradhan.Talking about the effects of the cyclone Fani, the NDRF DG said, "Landfall happened as per the speed predicted by IMD. Some effect has been seen in Puri. Earlier, it was in extremely severe cyclone category but
'Fani':Rains lash AP's coastal dist,no loss of life reported
Rains lashed parts of Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh as a fall out of Cyclone 'Fani', which hit the Odisha coast Friday, but no human casualties have been reported, officials said. Nine head of cattle and 12 sheep were killed in rain-related incidents, while over 2,000 electricity poles were uprooted because of high velocity winds and 218 cellular phone towers damaged, they said. The extremely severe cyclonic storm made landfall at around 8 a.m. in Puri but thanks to enough advance warning, about 11 lakh people had already been evacuated from vulnerable and low-lying areas of at least 11 coastal districts of Odisha by Thursday. The Andhra Pradesh government's Real-Time Governance Centre, which tracked the cyclone's movement round-the-clock for the last two days and predicted the exact landfall at Puri, came in for praise from the Odisha government. Odisha government officials called RTGC Chief Executive Officer Babu Ahamed over phone Friday and thanked him for ...
Bangladesh braces for cyclone 'Fani', evacuates over 5 lakh people from coastal areas
Bangladesh on Friday evacuated over five lakh people from its southwestern districts as cyclonic storm 'Fani', brewing over the Bay of Bengal, is drawing closer and is likely to hit the country late night and cause severe damage after ravaging the Indian coastlines. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has classified 'Fani' as an "extremely severe cyclonic storm". Met office spokesman Omar Faruque said the cyclone is likely to "enter Bangladesh through Khulna coastlines and will take the entire night to cross the country, ravaging southwestern" coastline districts. Bangladesh skyline turned dark in many parts of the country since noon as 'Fani', dubbed to be the deadliest cyclone in decades to hit the region, started approaching, albeit with an weakened force, after ravaging India's eastern Odisha coastlines, weather officials said. Faruque said the impact of the approaching cyclone caused downpour in some parts of the country and the intensity of the rainfall is expected to ...
15 dead, over 15,000 infected by dengue in Sri Lanka
Fifteen people have died and over 15,000 infected by dengue across Sri Lanka in the first four months of this year, the Epidemiology Unit said here on Friday.
Will help restore power supply in cyclone-hit Odisha: IEEMA
Electrical equipment body IEEMA Friday said it will help restoring power supply in cyclone-affected areas of Odisha. Cyclonic storm 'Fani' slammed into the Odisha coast on Friday morning, packing heavy rain and winds with speeds of up to 175 kmph. "The Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers Association (IEEMA) members are committed to rapid restoration of power supply in cyclone affected areas in Odisha," IEEMA said in a statement. The members of the association, the statement said, are committed to restoration of electrical and power infrastructure on a priority basis.
Cyclone Fani to enter Bengal by midnight (2nd Lead)
Cyclonic storm Fani, now situated in Odisha about 340 km southwest of Kolkata, has triggered intense rainfall and winds in West Bengal destroying 50 houses in East Midnapore district.
Assam on alert as Fani likely to hit on Saturday
The Assam government has sounded an alert in all districts of the state following a warning that Cyclone Fani will lash Assam and other parts of the northeastern region for two days starting Saturday early hours.
Cyclone Fani to have no major impact on Sri Lanka
Tropical cyclone Fani will not have a major impact on Sri Lanka in the coming days, Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said here on Friday.
Cyclone Fani makes landfall in Odisha, causes extensive damage
Heavy rains along with a wind speed of 175 kmph battered Odisha as powerful cyclone Fani made landfall close to the temple town of Puri on Friday morning, leaving a trail of destruction in the state.The impact of the "extremely severe cyclonic storm" was felt in neighbouring West Bengal including in the beach town of Digha and other areas.The cyclone, which crossed Odisha coast close to Puri coast between 8 a.m and 10 a.m. with a maximum wind speed of around 175 Kmph, caused "huge damage" in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri and Khordha districts in the state."There is extensive damage to dwelling houses. Almost all kutcha and old pucca have been fully or severely damaged," an Odisha government statement said.It said power supply snapped due to the uprooting of electricity poles, damage to substations and KV lines. "Power restoration process is in full swing," the release said. Uprooted trees and electricity poles blocked roads preventing vehicular movement.The cyclone caused damage to ...
Meet baby Fani, who was born in Odisha after Cyclone made landfall
As strong winds pummelled into the coast of Odisha after tropical Cyclone Fani made landfall in the state on Friday morning, along with little Fani!A 32-year old woman gave birth at the Railway Hospital here at 11:03 am and decided to name her Fani. Both mother and baby are reported to be healthy.The mother is employed as a helper at coach repair workshop in Indian Railways.The baby, when she grows up will surely have quite a tale to recount of how one of the strongest cyclones in India in 20 years with its gusting winds and heavy rains lashed across the state, uprooting trees and electric poles, blowing away rooftops and causing widespread damage.According to Odisha government over 1,300 pregnant women from vulnerable areas of the state were moved to Maa Gruha (maternity waiting homes ) and hospitals, the state government said on Twitter before the storm made landfall.While Fani took her name after today's cyclone, 40 years ago another Indian baby made headlinesIn 1979 Skylab Singh,
UN: 10 million North Koreans suffering severe food shortages
The United Nations says about 10 million people in North Korea are suffering from "severe food shortages" after the East Asian nation had one of the worst harvests in a decade. The World Food Programme said Friday that "unfavorable climatic conditions, limited supplies of agricultural inputs, such as fuel, fertilizer and spare parts have had significant adverse impact" on North Korea's 2018/2019 food crop production. The agency said an assessment mission carried out together with the UN Food and Agricultural Organization last month found "worryingly low food consumption levels, limited dietary diversity and families being forced to cut meals or eat less." The two Rome-based agencies said the situation is "particularly worrisome for young children and pregnant and breastfeeding women, who are the most vulnerable to malnutrition.
AIIMS PG 2019 exam in Bhubaneswar cancelled due to cyclone 'Fani'
The Union Health Ministry Friday announced cancellation of Bhubaneswar as a centre for the AIIMS PG 2019 examination due to cyclone 'Fani'. The cyclone rolled through Odisha on Friday, packing rain and windstorm that gusted up to 175 kmph, leaving at least three people dead, blowing away thatched houses, and swamping towns and villages. "AIIMS PG exam is scheduled on 5th May. Due to cyclone Fani, AIIMS Delhi is cancelling the exam centre in Bhubaneswar. Another exam will be conducted for students affected by this cancellation as soon as normalcy returns (sic)," Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan tweeted. According to sources, a part of the roof of a building at AIIMS Bhubaneswar was also ripped off in the cyclonic storm, but all students, staff and patients were learnt to be safe. The extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' or the 'Hood of Snake' made landfall around 8 am in Puri, with roaring winds flattening huts, enveloping the pilgrim town in sheets of rain, and submerging homes .
Cyclone Fani to change Nepal's weather condition
Cyclone Fani will alter the weather conditions in Nepal and bring heavy rainfall and snowfall in the Himalayas, meteorologists warned on Friday. The powerful cyclone, strongest to hit India in 20 years, made landfall at around 8 am in India's eastern state of Odisha. Large areas in the seaside pilgrim town of Puri and other places were submerged as heavy rains battered the entire coastal belt of the state affecting about 11 lakh people. Although the cyclone is not likely to make its way to Nepal, light to moderate rainfall coupled with lightning and windstorm will occur in some parts of eastern and central regions on Friday and Saturday. The weather will get a bit extreme, the Meteorological Forecasting Division warned. They said the cyclone will affect the regular pattern of weather conditions in some parts of the country. The cyclone is not likely to make its way to Nepal. However, lightning and showers will occur in some parts of eastern and central regions, a statement issued by .