Page 14 - Disaster Accident
Guv flags off new motorcycle squad of J-K traffic police
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Wednesday flagged off a new motorcycle squad of the traffic police here, launched to ensure better compliance of road safety norms. The state government has procured equipment worth nearly Rs six crore, including laser speed cameras with automatic number plate recognition, combined pollution under control equipment, speed radar guns with laser camera, hill recovery cranes and 110 motor cycles, an official spokesperson said. The Governor observed that the departments concerned should ensure the safety of people on the roads and extended full support of the administration in all the endeavours in this direction. Malik also emphasised the importance of following traffic rules and road safety measures to bring down the number of road accidents. The Governor said strict action should be taken against the violators of traffic rules and only trained persons should be allowed to drive. He noted that many accidents take place due to untrained drivers.
Delhi: 7 rescued as fire breaks out in parking lot
Seven people were rescued after a fire broke out in the parking lot of a residential colony in southeast Delhi's Abul Fazal Enclave early Tuesday, a Delhi Fire Service (DFS) official said. A six-year-old boy sustained minor injuries in the incident and was taken to a nearby hospital. He was discharged after being given first-aid treatment, Chief Fire Officer, Atul Garg said. The fire department received a call about the blaze at 3.22 am and three fire tenders were rushed to the spot, he said. "A short-circuit in the electric metre installed at the parking lot of the residential colony led to fire which eventually spread to the vehicles," the officer said. The blaze was brought under control by 5.10 am, he said, adding that three cars, four motorcycles and two scooters were gutted in the fire.
MP govt mulls panic buttons in passenger vehicles
The Madhya Pradesh government is planning to install tracking devices and panic buttons in all commercial passenger vehicles in a bid to ensure the safety of passengers, especially women. State Transport Minister Govind Rajput Wednesday said that a GPS-based control-cum-command centre would be set up in the state capital to track the real time location of such commercial vehicles. "We are planning to introduce GPS-based tracking devices and panic (emergency) buttons in all commercial passenger vehicles including buses and taxis," the minister told a press conference. Rajput said a GPS based control-cum-command centre would also be set up in the state capital to know the real time location of such commercial vehicles. "The panic buttons for emergency situations will be installed in the commercial passenger vehicles. If pressed, these panic buttons will send signals to the command centre so that help can be extended quickly. The move is aimed at ensuring the safety of ...
Fire breaks out in a residential building in Lake Town
A fire broke out on the third floor of a residential building in Lake Town area here on Wednesday, a fire brigade official said. Eight fire tenders were pressed into service to bring the fire under control. Fire brigade personnel rescued two persons, who were trapped in the building and there was no report of any other person being trapped or injured in the fire, the sources said. The blaze broke out in the four storied building located on Jessore Road in Lake Town area at about 2.20 PM and fire fighting was still on. Cause of the fire or extent of damages were yet to be ascertained, the police said.
Rajasthan: 35 passengers rescued after bus falls into rivulet
Thirty-five passengers were rescued on Wednesday afternoon after their bus fell into a rivulet in Bodiyana village of Chittorgarh late last night.The passengers, including women and children, had to wait for hours before help arrived.After the onerous rescue operation, all the passengers were rescued safely. "All the 35 people were rescued, our civil defence team did a good job. Police were also present at the spot," ADM Mukesh Kr Kalal told ANI."Some of the male passengers inside the bus tried to get out of the bus on their own with the help of the railway track passing above the rivulet, a few were successful in doing so," said a female passenger.Many men climbed onto the roof of the bus, to signal the need for help.The rescue was made tougher owing to the heavy flow of water in the rivulet, onlookers said.
Himachal Pradesh: French national injured in road accident in Kullu
A French national was injured in a road accident on Wednesday when he was on his way to exploring the tough Himalayan terrain.Identified as Pascal Dumur, the 58-year-old's bike collided with another in Ropa area of Kullu district.Dumur was rushed to the nearest local hospital in Bajaura area.Additional SP Kullu district Police, Raj Kumar Chandel said "They were total 8 International French bikers who started from Delhi two days ago and were going to explore the tough Himalayan terrain. When the accident took place they were heading towards Prashar lake in Mandi district".Another French biker, Roody, who was accompanying Dumur, said that he has suffered injuries to his elbows. "I hope for the betterment of my friend," Roody said.
Fire in high-tension wire at flyover doused
A fire broke out in a high-tension wire at the Barapullah flyover here on Wednesday, an official said. Three fire tenders were rushed to the spot after the incident was reported at around 11.50 am, a senior officer said. The blaze was doused successfully at around 1.30 pm and no casualty has been reported, the fire department officer said.
Air India pilot asks crew member to clean his tiffin in flight before takeoff, leads to a fight
An Air India pilot allegedly asked a crew member to clean the tiffin after he had finished his meal before taking off from Bengaluru airport, provoking a heated argument between the two, airline officials said Wednesday. Consequently, Air India is likely to ban pilots from bringing their own food on board an aircraft, the officials said. "We have taken a serious note of this incident that happened on Monday. We will soon ask pilots to not bring their own food on flights," said a senior official of the national carrier. Another airline official said flight AI-772 was to leave from Bengaluru for Kolkata at 11.40 am on Monday but it got delayed by nearly two hours as the captain and the cabin crew member who had gotten into a fight had to be removed and replaced on the plane. "I have been told that the captain wanted the cabin crew member to clean the tiffin after he finished his meal. Probably, this is what led to a fight between them. An investigation has been started. Strict action .
Quake shakes NW Japan, causes 21 injuries and minor damage
A powerful earthquake jolted northwestern Japan late Tuesday, causing minor injuries to 21 people and a brief evacuation of coastal homes until the risk of a tsunami passed. Store floors were littered with goods that fell off shelves, and roofs of homes showed bare spots where tiles had shaken loose. But business was returning to normal Wednesday morning, with trains mostly running as usual and electricity restored to thousands of homes that lost power temporarily. There were no reports of serious damage from the magnitude 6.7 quake. Minor sea level changes were detected by several coastal cities, but the tsunami warning was lifted after about 2 hours. Japan's Meteorological Agency said the earthquake struck off the western coast of Yamagata about 50 kilometers southwest of the city of Sakata. It was fairly shallow, about 14 kilometers below the sea's surface. Shallow quakes tend to cause more damage. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said 21 people were injured, most of them ..
Get your fax right: Bungling officials spark Japan nuclear scare
Bungling Japanese officials sparked a nuclear scare after a violent, late-night earthquake by ticking the wrong box on a fax form -- inadvertently alerting authorities to a potential accident. Employees of the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), operator of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant in Niigata -- where the 6.4-magnitude quake struck -- faxed a message to local authorities seeking to allay any fears of damage. But TEPCO workers accidentally ticked the wrong box on the form, mistakenly indicating there was an abnormality at the plant rather than there was no problem. One official filled out the form, and it was checked by a colleague before being sent. Many Japanese government departments and companies still rely on fax machines for communication. TEPCO's Tokyo headquarters noticed the mistake, and a correction was published 17 minutes after the original release, the firm's Tokyo-based spokesman told AFP. Kashiwazaki city mayor Masahiro Sakurai saw the incorrectly ...
15 dead, 36 injured in two road accidents in UP
At least 15 people lost their lives and 36 others sustained injuries in two separate accidents in the state, police said on Wednesday. Seven people were killed and 25 injured when a bus collided with a truck in Fatehpur on Wednesday morning, they said. Additional Superintendent of Police Pooja Yadav said the accident took place at the Bilari-Kaunh Modh under the Chaandpur police station area. "In the collision of a private bus with a truck, at least seven persons lost their lives, while 25 other sustained injuries. The injured have been hospitalised for treatment," Yadav said, adding that the identity of the victims is being ascertained. Police officials suspect that the toll might go up. The bus was going from Fatehpur to Jahanabad when the accident occurred. In another accident that took place late Tuesday night, at least eight people were killed and 11 others injured when their vehicle collided with a mini-goods carrier on the Moradabad-Agra National Highway in Sambhal, the ...
Tamil Nadu: DMK workers hold protests against water crisis in Coimbatore
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party workers held protests outside the Coimbatore City Corporation Office (CCCO) here against the acute water crisis in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.The protestors have taken this step in order to urge the CCCO to take steps to resolve this crisis affecting the state.On this matter, the Tamil Nadu minister D Jayakumar said, "Water management is a crucial subject. We are doing all that we can despite the deficient rain. We have over 400 water tanks distributing water in the state."The former speaker of the Tamil Nadu legislative understands the seriousness of the issue and believes that they are doing what they can to provide water to people who are lacking it.The protestors waved DMK flags and held bright plastic pots over their heads to make a vivid display of the protest against the water crisis.The protests took place in the wake of the scarce water supply in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. This water crisis seems to be a pressing issue in the ...
South Korea to send 50,000 tonnes of rice to North
South Korea said Wednesday it will send 50,000 tonnes of rice to North Korea via the World Food Programme to help the country cope with a severe food shortage. The isolated, impoverished North -- which is under several sets of sanctions over its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes -- has long struggled to feed itself and suffers chronic food shortages. "The government cannot ignore the plight among North Korean people," said Seoul's unification ministry, which handles inter-Korean relations. It will be the first time the South has provided food aid to the North since 2010, when it sent 5,000 tonnes of rice across the border. It comes after a joint report last month by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization and WFP that said about 10.1 million North Koreans -- 40 percent of the population -- were suffering from severe food shortages and that conditions could be exacerbated in the absence of aid. The North's state media also reported in May that the country was ...
7 killed, 25 injured as bus collides with truck in UP's Fatehpur
At least seven people lost their lives and 25 others sustained injuries when a bus collided with a truck here Wednesday, police said. Additional Superintendent of Police Pooja Yadav said the accident took place at the Bilari-Kaunh Modh under the Chaandpur police station area in the morning. "In the collision of a private bus with a truck, at least seven persons lost their lives, while 25 other sustained injuries. The injured have been hospitalised for treatment," Yadav said, adding that the identity of the victims is being ascertained. The bus was going from Fatehpur to Jahanabad when the accident occurred, police said. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident and conveyed his condolence to the family members of the bereaved, a statement issued by the UP government said. He has also directed officials to ensure that the injured persons get adequate treatment, it added.
Pre-monsoon showers bring down mercury in MP
Pre-monsoon showers have provided much-needed relief from intense heat to people in Madhya Pradesh, weatherman said Wednesday. The showers have almost brought down mercury across the state in the last 24 hours, an IMD officer said. "Rains or thundershowers with gusty winds are likely to sweep many parts of Bhopal, Gwalior, Chambal, Rewa and Sagar divisions (in the next 24 hours)," India Meteorological Department's (IMD's) Bhopal office duty officer Abhijeet Chakroborty told PTI. He said rains or thundershowers may occur in the next 24 hours at few places of Indore, Ujjain, Hoshangabad, Jabalpur and Shahdol divisions.
AES toll climbs to 113 in Bihar
Fresh deaths due to acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) have been reported in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, taking the total number of casualties to 113. The deaths took place at the Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH), where 20 fresh cases were brought since Tuesday night. The number of children admitted to the hospital with AES are 372 since June 1, the district administration said. The SKMCH has reported 93 casualties so far and only 118 children have been discharged after treatment. The rest are undergoing treatment or referred to hospitals in the Patna in a critical condition, it said. In the Kejriwal hospital, two fresh cases of the AES were reported since Tuesday night, taking the total number to 146 since June 1. The hospital has so far reported 19 casualties, though none of these took place in the past 24 hours. One death was also reported from the neighbouring East Champaran district on Tuesday. A release by the state health department said 11 medical officers ...
Over 2,000 minors booked in Hyderabad for traffic violations
More than 2,000 minors have been booked here for driving vehicles without a licence since January this year. As part of the drive against underage driving,2,217 cases have been registered by Hyderabad traffic police till Tuesday from January 1 and over Rs 16.32 lakh as fine imposed by the courts on the violators. In this regard 1,932 chargesheets have been filed, additional commissioner of police (Traffic) Anil Kumar told PTI Wednesday. A few parents of the minors had been jailed last year on charge of allowing their minor children to drive and some minors sent to juvenile homes, but this year only fines have been imposed so far, he said. All the minor drivers and their parents have been strictly warned not to drive vehicles without driving licence and valid documents. They have been told about the problems that they would face if involved in such cases and convicted by the court of law. The traffic police has launched a special drive against underage driving this ...
Delhi: Fire breaks out in scrap pile under Barapullah flyover
Fire broke out in a pile of scrap under Barapullah flyover here on Wednesday affecting traffic movement in the area.Soon after receiving a call of fire, three fire engines were deployed in the affected area.No injuries or casualties have been reported, more details pertaining to the incident are awaited.
IAG to buy 200 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes for $24 billion
International Airlines Group (IAG) has announced plans to purchase 200 Boeing 737 MAX jets in a deal valued at more than 24 billion dollars.IAG is the parent company of Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, and Level. It is one of the world's largest airline groups with 582 aircraft flying to 268 destinations, carrying 113 million passengers in 2018.Boeing 737 Max jets were grounded in mid-March after the fatal crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia. Boeing has been working to fix the automatic safety feature which is the focus of crash investigations. There is no timeframe yet for the 737 Max's return to service.IAG Chief Executive Officer Willie Walsh said the group will consider the 737 MAX as part of diversifying its future fleet to spur competition. The letter of intent to buy 200 planes was signed on Tuesday at the ongoing Paris Air Show here."We're very pleased to sign this letter of intent with Boeing and are certain that these aircraft will be a great addition to IAG's ...
IAG to buy 200 Boeing 737 MAX jets
International Airlines Group (IAG) has announced to buy 200 737 MAX passenger jets, three months after Boeing grounded the troubled aircraft worldwide following deadly crashes involving its make in Indonesia and Ethiopia.The IAG said in a statement on Tuesday that they have signed a letter of intent with the US aircraft maker. The deal is valued at around USD 24 billion, and the agreement covers purchases of the aircraft between 2023 and 2027, reported NHK world.The development marks a huge vote of confidence for Boeing's troubled 737 MAX, which came under scrutiny following two deadly plane crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia within six months. The two incidences had claimed the lives of more than 346 people.The 737 Max was first introduced in May 2017. It was designed to be a newer, better version of Boeing's 737.To make the plane more fuel-efficient, Boeing included new engines that had to be positioned differently on the jet's wings. It also added a new flight control system called .