Page 104 - Disaster Accident
Cyclone Fani: Bollywood celebs pray for safety of people
A slew of Bollywood celebrities including Abhishek Bachchan, Tamannaah Bhatia and Riteish Deshmukh have prayed for the safety of those who have been affected by the cyclonic storm Fani.
Cyclone: 'DGCA will issue revised guidelines to airlines as and when necessary'
Aviation regulator DGCA will issue revised advisories to airlines "as and when necessary" in view of the cyclone 'Fani', said Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu Friday. Prabhu also said that he has directed Pradeep Singh Kharola, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, to "continuously monitor the situation". Cyclone 'Fani' 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. In a series of tweets about the cyclone, Prabhu said he will pledge funds from Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) if necessary "as per the extant rule". "Directed Secretary (MOCA) to continuously monitor the situation. DGCA will be issuing revised advisories to Airlines as and when necessary. Taking all possible steps for passenger safety and to minimise their inconvenience," he added. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Friday said no ...
Cyclone Fani to enter West Bengal by midnight
The extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani, which is currently situated at about 370 km southwest of Kolkata, is likely to enter West Bengal with a wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph by midnight to Saturday early morning, an official said here on Friday.
Cyclone Fani: Vodafone Idea initiates contingency measures for subscribers in Odisha
India's largest telecom operator Vodafone Idea Friday said it has initiated contingency measures, including activating emergency helpline number and free SMS, for its customers in Odisha, which is facing a severe cyclonic storm. The mobile operator said it is also working closely with other network providers, partners and government agencies to ensure stable telecom connectivity during the cyclone. "We have taken all necessary precautions to face cyclone Fani...Helpline number 1938 is available for people to reach out in case of an emergency. Free SMS has been activated for VIL (Vodafone Idea) customers and Rs 5, 10 loan is available for users if they exhaust balance during emergency," the company said in a statement. It further said that the company has proactively ensured sufficient fuel supply to its sites across all locations, and stocking at strategic locations, for use in times of emergency. "Additionally, mobile DGs (diesel-fuelled generators), critical equipment spares and ...
Cyclone 'Fani' bites Odisha, three dead
Cyclone 'Fani' 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. The extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' or the 'Hood of Snake' made landfall around 8 a.m. in Puri, with roaring winds flattening huts, enveloping the pilgrim town in sheets of rain, and submerging homes in residential areas. Special Relief Commissioner B P Sethi said three people were reported dead in different incidents in Puri, Nayagarh and Kendrapara districts. While a teenage boy was killed when a tree collapsed on him in Puri, flying debris from a concrete structure left a woman dead in Nayagarh. An elderly woman died of heart attack at a relief shelter in Kendrapara district. The cyclonic system, whose eye is around 28 km wide, is moving at around 30 kmph, Biswas said. But within the system, the winds are reaching speeds of up to 175 kilometers per hour that may
Cyclone Fani causes extensive damage to AIIMS Bhubaneswar
Cyclone Fani on Friday caused extensive damage to AIIMS Bhubaneswar with several overhead water tanks and a part of the roof getting blown away.Strong winds uprooted several electricity poles in the campus. However, all patients, staff and students are safe."Extensive damage to the structure of AIIMS Bhubaneswar reported due to cyclone Fani. All patients, staff, students are safe. Many water tanks have blown off, lighting poles are down, air conditioners damaged. We have enough supplies, ready to support the state," said Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan.Telecommunication networks have been reportedly partially disrupted in Puri and Bhubaneswar districts in Odisha due to the cyclonic storm making landfall on Friday morning.In addition to the 147 trains (scheduled from May 1 to May 3) cancelled earlier, East Coast Railway has cancelled 10 more trains. Indian Navy's P-8I and Dornier are being scheduled to be launched in the afternoon for undertaking an aerial survey to assess the ...
Fani batters AIIMS Bhubaneswar unit, rips off hostel roof
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) unit here on Friday reported extensive damage hours after the Category 4 Cyclone Fani made landfall on the Odisha coast wreaking havoc and leaving a trail of destruction.
IOC says arrangements in place for uninterrupted fuel supply in Odisha, WB
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the country's biggest fuel retailer, Friday said it has made arrangements to ensure uninterrupted supply of petrol, diesel, LPG and jet fuel in Odisha and West Bengal that faced a category-4 cyclone. "In the wake of the cyclone Fani making landfall in Odisha earlier today (Friday), IOC is fully geared up and ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply from its locations in Odisha and West Bengal on the east coast," the company said in a statement. The company said its operations are largely normal across the two eastern states and it continues to supply. IOC has close to half of the retail fuel market share across the country. "Adequate stock of petroleum products such as petrol, diesel, LPG, kerosene and aviation fuel is available. The Corporation (IOC) is also actively assisting the district administration in evacuation, rescue and relief activities," the statement said. Cyclone Fani is the worst storm since 2014 and had prompted authorities to shift more than a
Three killed as Cyclone Fani batters Odisha
Three people were killed in separate incidents as cyclone Fani battered the Odisha coast Friday, officials said. A teenager was killed when a tree came crashing down on him at a place within Sakhigopal police station area limits in Puri district. Flying debris from a concrete structure hit a woman in Nayagarh district when she had gone to fetch water, killing her. In Debendranarayanpur village in Kendrapara district, a 65-year-old woman died after suspected heart attack at a cyclone shelter, official information reaching here said. Fani, an extremely severe cyclonic storm lashed the Odisha coast Friday morning, uprooting trees, blowing away thatched huts, and disrupting communication links.
Cyclone Fani: EC relaxes MCC in 4 districts of Andhra Pradesh
In the backdrop of cyclonic storm Fani, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has relaxed Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in four districts of Andhra Pradesh - East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam - in order to facilitate speedy rescue, relief and restoration activities."The Election commission has considered the matter and approved the proposal of granting relaxation in the provisions of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for all the preventive and relief work associated with the cyclone in East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam," said the ECI order.Extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani, which hit Odisha coast near Puri on Friday morning, triggered heavy rains in parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, while gusty winds uprooted trees and electricity poles. It moved close to north coastal Andhra before it made landfall in neighbouring Odisha.Yesterday the Election Commission directed officials to conduct re-elections at five polling stations in Andhra ...
BEST bus catches fire, none hurt
A Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus caught fire in suburban Malad on Friday, but nobody was injured in the incident, a fire brigade official said. The incident occurred around 7.30 am at a bus stand in Dindoshi area, he said. "The blaze started from the fuel tank of the bus. Except its two rear tyres, the entire vehicle, which was going towards Malad from Goregaon, was gutted in the fire. There was no report of injury in the incident," the official said. After being alerted, the fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and doused the flames, he added.
Cyclone: Mamata cancels rallies, asks people to stay indoors
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cancelled her public rallies scheduled for Friday and advised people not to pay heed to rumours and stay indoors as Cyclone Fani heads towards the state. The chief minister said, "We are fully alert" and keeping a close watch on the situation. "I will ask the common people to try to abstain from outdoor activities as much as possible in these two days. And if you have to go out, keep an eye on electric poles and live electric wires. Switch off cable television lines and put off gas cylinders during the storm," Banerjee, who is staying at Kharagpur in West Midnapore district to monitor the situation, said. The state government has sounded an alert to cope with the extremely severe cyclonic storm. "I will ask the people not to be scared and pay heed to any rumour. Do not panic but stay calm... Take shelter at nearby relief shelters. The administration is alert and monitoring the situation from time to time," she said. City mayor Firhad Hakim ..
Rain lashes Bengal as Fani stings Odisha
As the severe cyclonic storm Fani made landfall in neighbouring Odisha, heavy rainfall lashed Kolkata and Gangetic West Bengal on Friday.
Cyclone Fani: No flights to and from Kolkata airport between 3 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday
No flights will depart or arrive at Kolkata airport from 3 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday in view of the cyclonic storm 'Fani', which slammed into the Odisha coast in the morning, Indian aviation regulator DGCA said. On Thursday, the regulator said there would be no flights to and from Kolkata airport between 9.30 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday. A senior government official told PTI that the timings regarding the shutdown of flight operations at Kolkata airport have been revised after observing the progress of Cyclone Fani. On Friday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in a statement, "Revised timings provided by AAI for Kolkata airport; From 1500 IST on 3.5.2019 till 0800 IST on 4.5.2019." The Airports Authority of India (AAI) owns and manages more than 100 airports across India. In a series of tweets, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said Friday that all airlines must immediately respond to the concerns of passengers affected by Cyclone Fani. "We are ready to offer
Bengal ready to combat impending disaster: Mamata on Fani
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said the state was prepared to combat the extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani that is likely to affect six southern districts, while urging people to stay alert and not to panic.
Cyclone Fani: 223 trains cancelled till Saturday
As a precaution against cyclone 'Fani', the Indian Railway has cancelled 223 trains in the Bhadrak-Vizianagaram section, along the coastal lines of Odisha on the Kolkata-Chennai route till May 4, officials said.
Cyclone Fani: Telecommunication networks partially disrupted in Puri, Bhubaneswar
Telecommunication networks have been reportedly partially disrupted in Puri and Bhubaneswar districts in Odisha due to cyclonic storm Fani making landfall on Friday morning.In addition to the 147 trains (scheduled from May 1 to May 3) cancelled earlier, East Coast Railway has cancelled 10 more trains.Odisha and adjoining regions were battered by the extremely severe cyclonic storm which made landfall with a wind speed of around 245 kmph.Helpline number - 1938 - has been made operational by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).Indian Coast Guard has positioned 34 disaster relief teams at Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Paradip, Gopalpur, Haldia, Frazergunj and Kolkata besides four ships at Visakhapatnam and Chennai.The system is likely to continue to move north-northeastwards, weaken gradually and emerge into Gangetic West Bengal as a "severe cyclonic storm" by the early morning of May 4. Thereafter, it is expected to move further north-northeastwards and emerge into Bangladesh on May 4 evening .
Cyclone Fani to affect weather in Nepal
Extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani which made landfall in the Indian state of Odisha on Friday, is expected to affect the regular pattern of weather conditions in some parts of Nepal, weather officials said here.
Cyclone Fani: Mamata Banerjee cancels rallies for next 2 days to monitor situation
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday took to Twitter to inform that she has cancelled all her election rallies for the next two days in the wake of 'impending' Cyclone Fani in her home state."Have cancelled my rallies for the next 48 hours because of what could be an impending disaster #CyclonicStormFANI We are monitoring the situation 24x7 and doing all it takes. I appeal to all people to cooperate. Be alert, take care and stay safe for the next two days," she tweeted.Banerjee will stay in Kharagpur in West Bengal, near the coastal belt and monitor the situation herself.Earlier in the day, Odisha and adjoining regions were battered by the extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani which made landfall in Puri district with a wind speed of around 245 kmph, according to Hyderabad IMD.India Meteorological Department (IMD) tweeted: "The extremely severe cyclonic storm "Fani" is very likely to move north-northeastwards and weaken into a very severe cyclonic storm during next 6 ...
Lighting kills 8 in Uttar Pradesh
Lightning during a thunderstorm killed eight persons in two districts of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. Four persons were killed in Chandauli, while one person died in Sonebhadra.