Page 319 - Disaster Accident
6.0 magnitude earthquake jolts Commander Islands
An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck the Commander Islands in the Bering Sea on Monday.The epicentre of the quake was located in the Komandorskiye Ostrova region of the Bering Sea, ranging between latitude 55.4 degrees North and Longitude 164.3 degrees East of the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia.The tremor has a depth of 10 km, according to the Indian Meteorological Department.No deaths or casualties have been reported yet.Further details are awaited.
Goods train derail: Busy railway line made operational with Army's help
The Army's 4th Infantry Division helped in the removal of the wagons, derailed two days ago in Uttar Pradesh, and made a busy railway line operational on Monday, an official said. Nineteen wagons of the goods train jumped tracks near Baghauli railway station in Hardoi district on Saturday, disrupting the services on the Lucknow-Delhi route, a defence spokesperson said. Twenty-five personnel of the unit, also known as the Red Eagle Division, was rushed from Kanpur to assist the administration. The rescue operation started at 11.00 pm on Sunday with heavy earth-moving machines like armoured recovery vehicle and material handling cranes, said Arvind Sinha, regional spokesperson, Ministry of Defence, Allahabad region. After the operation was over, the railway line was made operational by 11.30 am on Monday, the spokesperson added.
Russian law enforcement investigate Int'l Space Station hole
A Russian cosmonaut who explored a mysterious hole in a capsule docked to the International Space Station says Russian law enforcement agencies are investigating what caused the opening. Sergei Prokopyev said Monday that investigators were looking at samples he and crewmate Oleg Kononenko collected during a Dec. 12 spacewalk. Prokopyev and two other astronauts returned to Earth last week after 197-day space station mission. The hole was spotted on Aug. 30 in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft attached to the station. The crew located and sealed a tiny leak that was creating a slight loss of pressure. Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin said in September the hole could have been drilled when the capsule was built or in orbit. Rogozin stopped short of blaming crew members, but the statement has caused friction between Roscosmos and NASA.
Rumbling Indonesia volcano could trigger more tsunamis, experts warn
Another tsunami could strike Indonesia, experts have warned, after a powerful wave caused by a volcanic eruption killed hundreds when it swallowed coastal settlements, taking earthquake-focused disaster monitors by surprise. While tsunamis are often triggered by earthquakes, in this case experts believe the deadly waves were generated by an eruption of the Anak (or "child of") Krakatoa volcano, which could have caused a large undersea landslide or flow of molten rock into the water. The tsunami "appears to have been caused by an underwater collapse" of part of the volcano, said David Rothery, a professor of planetary geosciences at Britain's Open University. Anak Krakatoa is an island that emerged around 1928 in the crater left by Krakatoa, whose massive 1883 eruption killed at least 36,000 people. The tsunami that struck on Saturday was the third natural disaster to hit Indonesia in six months. The country has 127 active volcanoes and lies on the Pacific Ocean's "Ring of Fire" where .
Ration card holders in 151 drought-hit talukas to avail Food
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Monday said all ration card holders from 151 drought affected talukas will avail benefits of Food Security scheme which is already in force. The chief minister said he has requested the Central government to release quota of food grains for the same. "The decision will benefit all-category ration card holders from 151 drought affected talukas to avail food grains under Food Security scheme, which is already in implementation in the 14 farm distressed districts of the state", he said in a statement. In October this year, the Maharashtra government had declared drought in 151 talukas in 26 of total 36 districts in the state. According to the government, 112 talukas are facing severe drought and 39 talukas a moderate drought. The 26 districts comprise eight districts each in the Vidarbha and the Marathwada regions, five districts in North Maharashtra, four districts in western Maharashtra and Palghar district in the coastal ...
Indonesia searches for tsunami victims; death toll hits 373
Efforts to collect hundreds of bodies and save the injured were stepped up in Indonesia on Monday following the country's latest tsunami, as scientists collected evidence on how a volcanic eruption triggered the weekend tragedy. Casualty figures from Saturday night's disaster continued to rise, with at least 373 people confirmed dead and more than 1,400 injured. The death toll was certain to rise further, with 128 people still missing from the affected areas along the coastlines of western Java and southern Sumatra islands, where hundreds of military personnel and volunteers were conducting their grim search along debris-strewn beaches. Where victims were found, yellow, orange and black body bags were laid out, and weeping relatives identified the dead. The waves that swept locals and tourists into the sea along the Sunda Strait followed an eruption and apparent landslide on Anak Krakatau, or "Child of Krakatoa," one of the world's most infamous volcanic islands. Hotels and hundreds ..
7 women among 8 killed in Haryana pile-up
At least eight people died when dense fog led to a pile-up on a national highway in Haryana's Jhajjar district on Monday, police said. Around eight-10 vehicles were involved in the crash that occurred due to poor visibility near the Badli flyover on the Rohtak-Rewari highway. It was difficult to pinpoint which vehicle had hit the other first. An SUV was sandwiched between two trucks, with several vehicles following closely behind, a senior police officer said. Eight people, including seven women, travelling in the SUV were killed and 10 others injured, said Inspector Seema, station house officer (city), Jhajjar. The deceased, aged between 30-60, belonged to Kirodh village of the district. They were among the 10 people who were in the vehicle and were heading for Delhi's Najafgarh area to condole the death of a relative, the inspector said. The injured were admitted to a hospital in Jhajjar town, from where two of them were referred to another hospital in Rohtak, she added. The ...
Indonesian tsunami toll reaches 281 amid fresh warnings
The death toll in a devastating tsunami that hit the coast of Indonesia after a volcanic eruption reached 281 on Monday, as rescuers continued digging through the rubble with bare hands and heavy machinery to find survivors amid warnings of more deadly waves in the coming days.
Indonesia tsunami death toll climbs to 373: disaster agency
Indonesia's disaster agency says the death toll from the weekend tsunami has climbed to 373. Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said Monday that 128 others were missing in the disaster, with 1,459 injured. The waves washed ashore along western Java and southern Sumatra islands Saturday night following a volcanic eruption. Hundreds of military personnel and volunteers combed debris-strewn beaches Monday looking for victims.
Fire at UGC office in central Delhi
A fire broke out Monday afternoon on the second floor of the University Grants Commission office near ITO in central Delhi, the UGC said. A call about the blaze in the office record room on the second floor of the building was received at 2.16 pm and six fire tenders were rushed to the spot, said an officer from the Delhi Fire Service, adding the fire was brought under control by 2.45 pm. According to the UGC, the fire broke out in Room No 219 of the UGC building. "Immediately, the UGC administration came into action and tried to extinguish the fire and informed the Delhi Fire Service and the police department as well. The Delhi Fire Service and the police department controlled the fire without any loss of life," the UGC said.
Haryana road accident: 8 killed, 10 injured near Jhajjar flyover
Eight persons, including seven women, were killed and ten critically injured in a massive pile-up of around 50 vehicles because of dense fog on the National Highway 71 in Haryana.
Slap heavy penalties on unruly airline staff: Parl panel
Taking note of instances of unruly behaviour by airline staff, a Parliamentary panel has suggested that heavy penalties should be imposed on such people as well as strictest possible action be initiated against them. Besides, the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture has called for putting in place a proper monitoring system to check the behaviour of employees of airlines. In a report tabled in Parliament last week, the panel noted that despite mechanisms put in place, the Civil Aviation Ministry's role in containing the discourteous, rude, arrogant and aggressive behaviour of airlines staff with passengers is far from satisfactory. "Almost all airlines have introduced a 'No-Fly' list for the unruly passengers, but when it comes to the turn of airlines to contain their unruly staff, they escape from their responsibility by saying that necessary training is being imparted upon. It is very essential that the airlines have to adopt ...
Fire in Delhi's UGC building, important files destroyed
A minor fire broke out on Monday on the second floor of University Grants Commission building here due to a short circuit, a fire officer said, adding some important files and documents in record room were reduced to ashes.
'ITBP personnel killed, 34 injured as bus falls into gorge in J&K's Ramban'
An Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel was killed and 34 others, including three officers of the paramilitary force, were injured Monday when a bus carrying them skidded off the road and fell into a gorge along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, police said. Nine of the injured persons, including a sub-inspector, two assistant sub-inspectors and a civilian driver, were airlifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital here for specialised treatment, a police officer said. He said the vehicle was carrying ITBP personnel, deployed in Rambun district for recent panchayat elections and was part of a Jammu-bound convoy. The accident occurred near Khuni Nallah in Ramban district around 8.45 am, he added. Trees prevented the bus from falling further down in the gorge and the rescuers comprising of Army, police and local volunteers immediately reached the accident site and evacuated the victims, the officer said. He said an ITBP personnel identified as Mohammad Ali was ...
7 tourists from Kerala injured in TN road accident
: Fourteen people including seven tourists from Kerala were seriously injured Monday when two vans collided near Dhanushkodi, police said. The tourists were part of a 100-member group from Kerala and were on their way to Dhanushkodi in six vans when the accident occurred, police added. One of the vans in which the tourists were travelling and a van transporting locals collided resulting in injuries to 14 people, police said. They said the injured were being treated in a hospital in Ramanathapuram.
Goods train derailment: Army columns clear two routes, work underway on remaining one
Two columns of the Army have been pressed into service to clear the tracks near the Baghauli railway station near Hardoi where several coaches of a goods train had derailed on Saturday, an official said on Monday.
8 killed, 10 injured in freak accident on Rohtak-Rewari Highway
As many as eight people, including six women, were killed while 10 sustained injuries in a freak accident when 50 vehicles hit each other on the Rohtak-Rewari highway in Haryana.The vehicles collided successively due to dense fog caused by the onset of winter, according to officials.Haryana Minister OP Dhankar said compensation of Rs. 2 lakh will be given to the kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh to those who sustained severe injury and Rs. 50, 000 would be given to those with minor injuries.The injured are being treated at a hospital.Further details are underway.
Cliffhanger! Miraculous escape for passengers as bus hangs from edge of hill road
Over 30 passengers had a great escape when a bus skidded off a slippery, icy hill road and teetered precariously over a steep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district on Monday, police said. Locals helped rescue the passengers from the bus, which was wedged between two concrete parapets on the winding road. In a scene that could be straight out of a film, half the vehicle was hanging over the gorge at Gatsu village on the Batote-Kishtwar highway in Jammu region, Bhadarwah Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rajinder Singh said. The bus was on its way to Jammu town from Padder area of Kishtwar district when the accident took place in the morning, Singh said. The driver lost control of the vehicle due to frost on the road in the sub-zero temperatures, the ASP said, citing preliminary investigation reports. The officer advised drivers to manoeuvre carefully as most of the roads in the district remain frozen during winter and become slippery. In a separate accident in Kathua ...
Over 60,000 people affected by Sri Lanka flash floods
Over 60,000 people have been affected by flash floods and heavy winds in Sri Lanka's northern part after days of heavy rains, officials said on Monday.
'Everything's gone': Indonesian villagers recount tsunami horror
Asep Sunaria heard a loud "whoosh" just seconds before a wall of water threw him off his motorbike, swallowing his house and the village he called home until Saturday night. As rescuers hunted for survivors of the volcano-triggered tsunami that killed at least 281 people along Indonesia's coast, 42-year-old Sunaria was trying to come to grips with a disaster that struck without warning. "The water came from over there with a sound like the wind -- 'whoosh'," he recounted to AFP. "I was shocked. I didn't expect it at all -- there was no warning ... At first I thought it was just a tidal wave but the water rose so high." He and his family sprinted from Sukarame village to higher ground, leaving them with only the clothes on their back. But they were among the lucky ones. Some villagers perished when the powerful tsunami struck on Saturday night, sweeping over popular beaches of southern Sumatra and the western tip of Java and inundating tourist hotels and coastal settlements. Experts ...