Page 107 - Disaster Accident
Miners rescue operation affected due to flooding of nearby
The multi-agency operations to rescue the remaining 14 coal miners trapped inside a 370-foot deep illegal coal mine in Meghalaya over four months ago was affected Wednesday after nearby Ltein river swelled rendering the rescuers unable to reach to the site, officials said. The Navy had recently called off its rescue operation at tne coal mine. But, NDRF and some civil and police agencies of Meghalaya are still continuing with the search work at the rat hole mine where the tragedy had struck on December 13 last year. The whole area is flooded after incessant rainfall had caused the nearby Ltein river to swell. It is not possible for the rescuers to reach the site, East Jaintia Hills deputy commissioner F M Dopth told PTI. Rescuers had to cross the Lytein river three times in order to reach to the mines and the main shaft located at the side of a hillock where the miners were trapped and feared dead. Nine of the 10 high pressure pumps belonging to the Coal India Ltd, the .
Two killed as truck falls into river in Uttarakhand's Chamoli
Two persons were killed in the wee hours of Wednesday when their truck fell into the Pindar river in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, an official said. The accident occurred at Mauna Cheena in Narayanbagar block on Karnaprayag-Gwaldam national highway at around 2 am, Revenue Officer, Sohan Singh Rangad, said. Maan Singh (31) and Nitin (21), hailing from Uttar Pradesh's Mathura and Ghaziabad, respectively, were killed on the spot, he said. The truck was carrying tar to a construction site, the officer said. The bodies were recovered in the morning by police and disaster relief force personnel and the exact cause of the accident is yet to be known, he added.
19 districts of Odisha, Bengal, AP and Kolkata to be hit by 'extremely severe' cyclone Fani
At least 19 districts of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, besides Kolkata are likely to be affected by "extremely severe" cyclonic storm "Fani", which is approaching India's eastern coast and is likely to hit south of Puri on Friday, officials said. Around 900 cyclone shelters have been made ready to house evacuees while troops of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and 78 teams of the National Disaster response Force (NDRF) have been requisitioned for deployment. The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), the country's top body to handle an emergency situation, on Wednesday reviewed the preparedness for "Fani", which is likely to hit south of Puri in Odisha on Friday, a home ministry official said. At a meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha and attended by the representatives of the state and central ministries and the agencies concerned, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that "Fani" was expected to touch the Odisha coast, south of Puri, on ...
Cyclone Fani: Red alert sounded in Srikakulam district
: A red alert has been sounded in Srikakulam district of north coastal Andhra Pradesh Wednesday as heavy rains with winds gusting up to 120 kmph are likely under the influence of the extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani. Heavy rainfall has also been predicted in adjoining Vizianagaram district and scattered rainfall in Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts along the Bay of Bengal on May 2 and 3. As many as 11 mandals along the Bay of Bengal coast in Srikakulam are expected to bear the brunt of Fani. In Vizianagaram district, seven mandals might be affected. Fifteen teams of NDRF personnel, 34 boat rescue teams of Fire Services Department and 116 road clearance teams have been kept on stand-by for necessary emergency operations. The Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy has kept its ships ready in Visakhapatnam with relief material for immediate deployment to the most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Aid and Distress Relief (HADR) operation. Diving ...
Airoli blaze: NMMC for strict compliance of safety norms
The major blaze that raged in the upper floor of a Navi Mumbai high-rise Tuesday has once again underlined the need for a strict compliance with the fire safety norms by residential societies, a senior Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) official said Wednesday. Fire officials suspect a short circuit to be the cause behind the fire that occurred on the 15th floor of the 22-floor Mahavir Plaza, located in Sector 19 in Airoli node. Nobody was injured in the incident. A fire official said a 69-metre sky-lift (snorkel) was used to douse the flames, and that a major tragedy was averted due to swift action by fire personnel. "Residential societies need to take extra care of the fire system regularly, which they are neglecting thus putting their own life and property in danger," NMMC Additional Municipal Commissioner Ravindra Patil told PTI. The NMMC keeps alerting all residential societies to be more vigilant and ensure a functional fire compliance system in their ...
Fire breaks out at Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga
A fire broke out on the ground floor of Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga in Lutyens' Delhi on Wednesday, a Delhi Fire Service official said. The fire department said a call about the incident was received at 5.15 pm after which two fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The blaze was brought under control by 5.35 pm. No casualty was reported in the incident, the official said, adding that two people were rushed to a hospital as they showed signs of uneasiness after inhaling the toxic fumes, the official said. A short-circuit in the air-conditioner was suspected to be the cause of the fire, he said.
Indian Naval team joins search operations in Imphal
An Indian Naval diving team Wednesday joined the search operations to trace three people reported missing after their boat capsized during a storm in Imphal. Based on a request from the Manipur government, a team of 12 Naval divers and two hydrographers(survey sailors) were airlifted from Visakhapatnam by an IAF aircraft to Imphal Tuesday evening, a navy release said. The naval diving team is carrying necessary diving equipment including portable side scan sonar for locating objects underwater and commenced search operations, according to the release here. The team has joined the ongoingsearch operation along with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team and civil authorities to trace three people out of 12 reported missing after their boat capsized during a storm in the reservoir of Mapithel dam in Kamjong district of Manipuron April 28.
Armed forces on alert as Odisha braces for cyclonic storm
Defence forces are on high alert, educational institutions ordered shut and thousands in coastal districts being evacuated as Odisha braces for cyclone 'Fani', the extremely severe cyclonic storm that is likely to make landfall near Puri on Friday, officials said. According to the latest forecast by the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JWTC), Fani, the most severe cyclonic storm since the super cyclone of 1999 that claimed close to 10,000 lives and devastated large parts of Odisha, is expected to cross the holy town of Jagannath Puri May 3 afternoon, packing winds up to 175 KMPH before the landfall. The storm over the Bay of Bengal centred about 660 km south-south west of Puri was ominously rolling towards the Odisha coast at a speed of 14 KM per hour. Official sources said Navy, Indian Air Force and Coast Guard have been put on high alert to meet any eventuality. Personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire .
Cyclone Fani: 74 trains cancelled in first phase
In view of the cyclonic storm Fani, at least 47 trains have been cancelled by the East Coast Railway (ECoR) in Odisha, said an official on Wednesday.
'Fani' to hit Puri on Friday with speed of about 175 kmph: JTWC
Cyclonic storm 'Fani' is expected to make a landfall near Balukhand village in Puri district of Odisha, where a yellow alert is in place, on Friday afternoon with a speed of about 175 kmph, Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) said Wednesday."The wind speed before the 'Fani' makes landfall would be about 175 kmph and would pass through Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack (Niali), Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj in Odisha before turning towards West Bengal," JTWC bulletin said.As per a forecast bulletin by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), 'Fani' moved northwestwards with a speed of about 10 kmph in last six hours and lay centred about 680 km south-southwest of Puri and 430 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam.The state government has cancelled all leaves of doctors and health staff up to May 15 to deal with any possible situation. Those who are on leave have been asked to report back to respective headquarters by Wednesday evening.All state universities and colleges coming under ..
Cyclone Fani strengthens, could batter south Bengal
In wake of Cyclone Fani gradually gaining strength, weather officials on Wednesday warned of destruction of thatched houses, roads, and crops in eight districts of West Bengal and advised people be evacuated from coastal areas.
TN Minister helps accident victim
Tamil Nadu Minister S P Velumani Wednesday played Good Samaritan when he stopped his car on seeing a seriously injure road accident victim and made arrangements for his hospitalisation here Wednesday. Velumani was on his way to campaign in nearby Sulur, where a by-poll is scheduled for May 19, when he noticed a youth lying in a pool of blood on the road side at Pattanam Junction following an accident, police said. He immediately stopped the car and made arrangement to send the youth, a college student, to a hospital. He also spoke to the hospital authorities and asked them to provide good treatment.
Delhi High Court issues notice to Jet Airways
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to Jet Airways regarding a plea seeking a full refund of the airfare to the passengers who were affected by the suspension of the airline's service.The bench led by Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani also sought a reply from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation in this regard.The plea was filed by advocate Shashank Deo Sudhi on behalf of petitioner Bejon Kumar Mishra. It sought prompt resolution to all the affected passengers by a full refund of the amount in respect of their booked air ticket or accommodation in other flights.Jet Airways, on April 17, cancelled all flights, including its international flights temporarily, after failing to secure emergency funds from its lenders, according to a statement by the airlines.July 16 has been set as the next date for hearing in the court.
Cyclone 'Fani' may hit Odisha with wind speed of 205 km: IMD
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday said the cyclonic storm 'Fani' has turned severely strong while moving northward and is scheduled to hit Odisha on May 3 with wind speed ranging to a maximum of 205 kilometres per hour."Yesterday's cyclonic storm 'FANI' (pronounced as 'FONI') over southeast Bay of Bengal (BoB) and neighbourhood moved nearly northwards and intensified into a severe cyclonic storm the same evening (1730 hrs IST).""It is very likely to intensify further into an extremely severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours. It is very likely to move northwestwards till 01st May evening and thereafter recurve north-northeastwards and cross Odisha Coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, to the south of Puri around May 3 afternoon with maximum sustained wind of speed 175-185 km/h gusting to 205 km/h," a press release by IMD reads.The department has already released a yellow warning for Odisha coast on Tuesday evening leading to the Election Commission lifting the ..
'Extremely severe' cyclone 'Fani' to hit south of Puri Friday: NDMA
Extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Fani', which is approaching India's eastern coast, is likely to hit Gopalpur and Chandbali, south of Puri in Odisha on Friday, the National Disaster Management Authority said Wednesday. Heavy rains is also very likely at isolated places over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya. "Extremely severe" cyclonic storm 'Fani' is likely to hit Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, south of Puri on May 3 with wind speed of 175-185 km per hour gusting up to 205 kmph, the NDMA said quoting a bulletin of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Gusty wind with speed 40-50 km per hour is expected at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim. Gusty wind with speed 30-40 km per hour is also likely at isolated places over Odisha and gangetic West Bengal, the NDMA said. Navy and Coast Guard ships and helicopters, relief teams of the National ...
Five killed as SUV hits three motorcycles
Five men were killed after an SUV hit their motorcycles at Chakan in the district, police said on Wednesday. The accident took place near Khalubre around 11.30 pm on Tuesday, police said. According to police, all the five victims worked at a fabrication unit and were returning home after work on three motorcycles. "The SUV hit the divider and landed on the other side of the road before colliding with the three motorcycles. All the five men died on the spot," a police officer said. The driver of the vehicle, who suffered injuries in the incident, was admitted to a nearby hospital, he said. A case under IPC sections 279 (rash driving), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 304 A (causing death by negligence) and relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act the driver, police said.
Tourists asked to leave Puri as cyclone 'Fani' approaches Odisha
The Odisha government on Wednesday advised tourists to leave the seaside pilgrim town of Puri in view of the extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' moving closer to Odisha coast, a senior official said. It has also ordered closure of all educational institutions in the state. The India Meteorological Department said in a bulletin that 'Fani' (pronounced as Foni) is likely to cross the Odisha coast near Satapada in Puri district on Friday afternoon with a maximum sustained speed of 175-185 kmph and gusting up to 205 kmph. The wind speed of a cyclonic storm is 80-90 kmph gusting up to 100 kmph. In case of an 'extremely severe cyclonic storm', the wind speed goes up to 170-180 kmph and could gain the speed of 195-200 kmph. The IMD has issued its 'yellow warning' for the Odisha coast and suggested total suspension of fishing activities, extensive evacuation from coastal areas and diversion or suspension of rail and road traffic. A yellow warning indicates severely bad weather, warning ...
Scientists find possible crash site of flight MH370
Scientists claim to have identified a potential crash site of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 using a new mathematical approach to analyse how debris moves around the ocean. The 2014 disappearance of flight MH370 remains ones of the biggest mysteries in aviation. Over USD 150 million has been spent so far to identify where the plane carrying 239 passengers crashed into the Indian Ocean, with no success. An international team of researchers, including those from the University of Miami in the US, used what are known as Markov chain models to narrow down a potential crash location substantially north of the region where most search efforts have concentrated. A Markov chain model predicts the behaviour of complicated systems by determining the probability of each outcome from the current state of what is being studied. They have been used to power Google search algorithms and model financial markets. In the study, published in the journal Chaos, the group used data from the Global ...
Delhi HC issues notice to Jet Airways on plea for refund, alternative flights to passengers
The Delhi High Court Wednesday issued notice to Jet Airways on a plea seeking direction to the Civil Aviation Ministry and the DGCA to ensure refunds or provide alternative travel mode for passengers who have booked tickets with the airlines which has temporarily suspended all its flights. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A J Bhambhani sought response from Jet Airways and also asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to file an affidavit on the issue. The high court said it will hear the matter after summer vacation and posted the matter for July 16. The court's directions came on a plea, filed by activist Bejon Kumar Misra, which had said that the sudden suspension of air services of Jet Airways has resulted in a major crisis for passengers who were not informed about it earlier. The application had sought direction to the ministry and DGCA to adopt prompt redressal mechanism for all affected passengers to access full refund of air tickets with ...
Cyclone Fani: EC lifts model code of conduct from 11 coastal districts of Odisha
The Election Commission has lifted the model code of conduct from 11 coastal districts of Odisha, which are likely to be hit by Cyclone Fani, an official said. The state is bracing for a severe cyclonic storm that is expected to cross its coast near Satapada in Puri district on May 3 afternoon with wind speed of 175-185 kmph. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had Tuesday urged the poll panel to withdraw the code of conduct from the coastal areas to facilitate speedy rescue and rehabilitation activities. "The Election Commission has approved the proposal to lift the model code of conduct (MCC) in 11 districts of Odisha to facilitate relief and rescue operations," Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Surendra Kumar told PTI on Wednesday. The move will also expedite the work being undertaken to combat the cyclone in the coastal region, spread across Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Cuttack and Jajpur areas, he said. The IMD Tuesday issued a .