Page 128 - Disaster Accident
Balochistan: 14 shot dead on Makran Coastal Highway
As many as 14 people were shot dead on Thursday after being identified and offloaded from passenger buses on Makran Coastal Highway in Balochistan.Quoting sources from Balochistan Levies, The Dawn reported that around 15 to 20 unidentified gunmen stopped five or six buses travelling between Karachi and Gwadar between 12:30 a.m. and 1 a.m. on Thursday.Around the Buzi Top area, the gunmen stopped the buses, checked the identity cards of passengers and offloaded about 16 of them. Fourteen passengers were immediately shot dead, while two passengers managed to escape the incident and reached the nearest Levies check post.Sources told The Dawn that the two people suffered severe injuries and were shifted to Ormara Hospital for treatment.As soon as the incident was reported, Levies and other law enforcement personnel reached the spot and launched an investigation into the incident. No terror group has claimed responsibility for the incident so far.The local police recovered the bodies of the
3 killed, 10 injured in minibus accident
Three persons were killed and 10 others injured when a minibus carrying them overturned in Aurangabad district on late Wednesday night, police said. The minibus, carrying a marriage party, was proceeding to Pachrukhiya village in Aurangabad district from Koila Kamta village in Arwal district. The accident occurred near Gahna village when the driver lost control of the bus, killing three persons on the spot, Haspura Station House Officer (SHO) Ashwini Kumar Sinha said. The injured were referred to the Sadar Hospital here after being administerd first aid at Haspura Referral Hospital.
Forecasters turn to array of technology to fight floodwaters
An arsenal of new technology is being put to the test fighting floods this year as rivers inundate towns and farm fields across the central United States. Drones, supercomputers and sonar that scans deep under water are helping to maintain flood control projects and predict just where rivers will roar out of their banks. Together, these tools are putting detailed information to use in real time, enabling emergency managers and people at risk to make decisions that can save lives and property, said Kristie Franz, associate professor of geological and atmospheric sciences at Iowa State University. The cost of this technology is coming down even as disaster recovery becomes more expensive, so "anything we can do to reduce the costs of these floods and natural hazards is worth it," she said. "Of course, loss of life, which you can't put a dollar amount on, is certainly worth that as well." US scientists said in their spring weather outlook that 13 million people are at risk of major ...
Strong quake hits east Taiwan, rattles buildings in capital
Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau says a strong 6.1 magnitude earthquake has struck the east of the island. The office said the quake happened just after 1 p.m. local time (0500GMT). The epicentre was located just over 10 kilometers (6 miles) northwest of the eastern coastal city of Hualien. There were no immediate reports of damage. The quake shook buildings in the northern capital, Taipei, which is about 115 kilometers (71 miles) away.
Construction workers questioned over Notre Dame fire
Prosecutors investigating the causes of the inferno that ripped through the 850-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris have questioned construction workers and security staff, as more details have emerged about the effort to contain the blaze, the media reported.
Tourist bus crashes in Portugal's Madeira, 28 people dead
At least 28 people lost their lives while scores are injured after a bus carrying them crashed here on Wednesday evening.Quoting local news sources, Sputnik reported that several ambulances are currently on the site of the incident."There are fatalities but information on the number of victims is still not certain," Mayor Filipe Sousa said.Most of the victims are believed to be German tourists. The cause behind the incident remains unknown. The exact number of people on the bus is also not known yet.Out of the 28 deceased, 11 are believed to be men while 17 are women. The driver and the guide, both Portuguese, have been injured in the mishap.
3 dead, over 150 missing after boat capsizes in Congo
Out of the 150 people declared missing, at least three people lost their lives and 37 were rescued after an overcrowded boat capsized in Lake Kivu, according to Vital Muhini, the national Deputy from South Kivu province.Expressing his grief, Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi said: "I am very saddened by the sinking of a boat on April 15 at Lake Kivu. The provisional toll is 150 missing. I express my sincere compassion to the families who have suffered," he tweeted on Wednesday.Muhini told CNN that the overloaded boat had departed from Kituku port before the mishap occurred.The exact number of people on board is not known. Initial investigations revealed that the passengers were not wearing life jackets."It's unfortunate to find that people travel aboard a small boat. They had no life jackets...which calls for sanctions of all the perpetrators who contributed to this sinking," Muhini said.The country's previous transport minister was sacked from his post after a string of accidents ...
29 German tourists killed in Portuguese bus crash
Twenty-nine German tourists were killed on Wednesday when a bus crashed on the Portuguese island of Madeira. Televised images showed the bus had spun off the road, apparently having flipped several times, before crashing into a house at the bottom of a slope. "Horrible news comes to us from Madeira," a German government spokesman tweeted after the deadly crash. "Our deep sorrow goes to all those who lost their lives in the bus accident, our thoughts are with the injured," he added. Filipe Sousa, mayor of Santa Cruz where the accident happened, said 17 women and 11 men were killed in the crash, with another 21 injured. A doctor told reporters another woman died of her injuries in hospital. "I express the sorrow and solidarity of all the Portuguese people in this tragic moment, and especially for the families of the victims who I have been told were all German," President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa told Portuguese television. He said he would travel to Madeira overnight. Portuguese Prime ..
29 killed in bus accident on Portuguese island
At least 29 people have died after a bus carrying German tourists plunged off a road and overturned on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
28 killed, including Germans, in Portuguese tourist bus crash: Officials
Twenty-eight people, including German nationals, were killed when a tourist bus crashed on the Portuguese island of Madeira on Wednesday, local officials said. "Horrible news come to us from Madeira," a German government spokesman tweeted after the deadly crash. "Our deep sorrow goes to all those who lost their lives in the bus accident, our thoughts are with the injured," he added. The German embassy in Lisbon confirmed to AFP that a number of its nationals were among the dead, without giving any figures. Filipe Sousa, mayor of Santa Cruz where the accident happened, said 17 women and 11 men were killed in the crash, with another 21 injured. The regional protection service in Madeira did not confirm those figures. "We only know that there were German victims. For the moment we don't know either the names or the number of the victims," an embassy spokesman said. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Twitter that he had contacted German Chancellor Angela to convey his ...
28 killed in Portuguese tourist bus accident: Madeira mayor
At least 28 people were killed when a tourist bus crashed on the Portuguese island of Madeira on Wednesday, local mayor Filipe Sousa told local media. The regional protection service did not confirm the toll when questioned by AFP. Images from the scene showed the wreckage of the bus which appears to have come off the road and rolled over. Around 50 people are believed to have been on board.
22 killed in unseasonal rains, lightning in MP
Unseasonal rains accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning hit various parts of Madhya Pradesh, leaving 22 people dead, senior police officials said Wednesday. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath expressed grief over the deaths and took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his tweet on unseasonal rains, charging he was concerned only about his home state Gujarat. According to officials, rains lashed parts of the state on Tuesday night, claiming three lives each in Indore and Shajapur, four in Dhar, two each in Khargone, Sehore and Ratlam and one each in Alirajpur, Seoni Rajgarh, Sehore, Barwani and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh. Four persons, including two minors, were killed in Dhar district's Pipalla and Dahi villages after they were hit by lightning, an official release said. In Indore's Hatod police station area, three persons, including two minors, were killed after being struck by lightning. Three others were killed in separate incidents in Shajapur when ...
Uber allows Saudi women drivers to choose female passengers
After running a pilot program to understand the preference of women drivers in Saudi Arabia, Uber has officially introduced a feature to let the drivers decide the riders.Uber announced the introduction of its 'Passenger Preference' feature in Saudi Arabia for the female drivers. Last year, the pilot program found that 74 per cent of prospective women drivers would only be interested in driving with women riders.Saudi Arabia lifted a ban on women drivers as a step towards a progressive society in June 2018.
Iran Rouhani says floods revealed 'vicious' nature of US
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday that the United States' reaction to floods that killed dozens of people had revealed Washington's "vicious" nature. At least 76 people have died after torrential rainfall which has also caused billions of dollars worth of damage since March 19. Iran's Red Crescent has repeatedly complained that US banking sanctions re-imposed last year make it impossible to receive donations from outside the country. Washington "always claimed that it is on very good terms with the people of Iran (and) it is the Iranian government that it has a problem with," Rouhani said. But by blocking aid to the Red Crescent, the US had given lie to that claim, he said. "The heads of the American regime have revealed their true vicious and inhuman nature," he said at a cabinet meeting screened live on state TV. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have estimated two million people need humanitarian aid following "the largest disaster ..
50 killed, scores hurt in rain, thunderstorm
As many as 50 people were reportedly killed and scores others injured in thunderstorms, hail and dust-storm and rain that lashed Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana since Tuesday evening.
Parts of north, north-east India may witness thunderstorms and rains in next 24 hrs, warns Met dept
Several parts of north and northeast India are likely to witness thunderstorm and rainfall over the next 24 hours, the Met department said on Wednesday. A western disturbance, which had caused severe weather conditions over major parts of north and central India on Tuesday, has further moved eastwards, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, adding that the mercury which dipped over the last two days will again start rising. Over 50 people died due to thunderstorms, rains and lightening in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra on Tuesday. The reduction in moisture incursion from the Arabian Sea is likely to weaken the intensity of the system from Wednesday. However, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds (speed reaching 40-50 kilometres per hour) are likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, northeast Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during next 24 hours, the Met Department
25 killed in rain-related incidents in Rajasthan in 48 hrs
Twenty-five people were killed in separate rain-related incidents in Rajasthan in the past 48 hours, an official said Wednesday. Disaster Management and Relief Minister Master Bhanwar Lal Meghwal said a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each was announced by the state government for the families of victims. He said the assessment of losses to crops and properties was being done. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condoled the deaths and directed officials to carry out a survey of losses and damage caused due to the rough weather. "Farmers have suffered losses due to the rains and storm and it is matter of concern. I asked the chief secretary yesterday to get the survey of losses conducted immediately so that compensation could be given on time," Gehlot told reporters on Wednesday. Several of cattle were also killed in rain-related incidents which occurred due to rough weather triggered by a western disturbance. Relief Secretary Ashutosh A T Pednekar said 21 of the 25 deaths occurred in Jhalawar, ...
Will support Jet resolution process within existing regulatory framework: MoCA
Hours after cash-starved Jet Airways announced the suspension of operations, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said Wednesday it will support the resolution process within the existing regulatory framework. In its first reaction on the latest Jet Airways development, the ministry also said that the DGCA and other regulators are monitoring the situation carefully to ensure that all existing rules regarding refunds, cancellations, and alternate bookings are followed strictly. Jet Airways, which flew just five planes on Tuesday, has decided to suspend operations in the night after lenders decided not to extend emergency funds. In a series of tweets, the ministry said the airline has informed it about temporarily ceasing operations. "The bank-led resolution process is still underway and expected to end by May 10. During this time, MoCA (Ministry of Civil Aviation) will support the resolution process within the existing legal and regulatory framework," it said. Further, the ministry ...
Punjab orders special survey to access crop damage
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here on Wednesday ordered a special girdawari (harvest inspection) for assessment of crop damage caused by untimely rain and storm in the past 72 hours.
Texas man dies after killing neighbor, setting house ablaze
Authorities in San Antonio said a man assaulted his wife, fatally shot a neighbor and set his house on fire before dying in a hail of gunfire with police. Police Chief William McManus said the man "severely" beat his wife Tuesday afternoon, then opened fire on her as she ran away. The woman, who suffered severe facial injuries in the assault, wasn't struck by gunfire, but a neighbor was, the police chief said. McManus said the shooter set fire to his home shortly before officers arrived. Then, according to the police chief, the man "took a prone position" by lying down on his porch and opened fire with a rifle. It wasn't clear who he was firing at, but the SWAT team returned fire. McManus said the man was fatally shot, though authorities don't know whether he shot himself or was struck by the officers' gunfire. Meanwhile, 25 mph (40 kph) winds caused the fire at his home to spread to a neighbor's house, San Antonio Police Chief Charles Hood said. Firefighters couldn't immediately ...