Page 379 - Disaster Accident
New Zealand to send body-recovery team into death mine
Body-recovery specialists will enter a New Zealand mine where 29 men died in a 2010 explosion, officials said Wednesday after years of heated debate about retrieving the workers' remains. The blast at the Pike River colliery in November 2010 was New Zealand's worst mining disaster in almost a century, killing 24 New Zealanders, two Australians, two Britons and a South African. It was triggered by a build-up of methane and the South Island mine was permanently closed amid fears the flammable gas remained, angering the families of the dead who wanted the entombed remains removed. The controversy was so intense that when Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was elected last year she appointed Andrew Little to the specially created portfolio of Minister for Pike River Re-entry. Little announced Wednesday that a plan to go into the mine had been finalised after consultation with mining safety experts from around the world. "To the Pike River families -- and to New Zealand -- we are returning," he
Tamil Nadu steps up relief ops in wake of Cyclone Gaja
With cyclone Gaja expected to make a landfall between Pamban and Cuddalore by Thursday afternoon, authorities have stepped up their efforts to ensure that the state is ready to face any adverse situation.As part of rescue and relief operations, the State government has set up adequate number of relief camps. Cuddalore District Collector, V Anbuselvan stated that around 20,000 families residing in the 'danger zone' near the coastline will be shifted to these camps.In order to minimize casualties and mitigate damage of both life and property, the administration has urged fishermen to not venture into waters and has assured them cooperation in terms of compensation for the loss of business.Cuddalore district comprises of 683 Village Panchayats, 16 Gram Panchayats, and five municipal areas."For the safety of the residents, we have formed 19 interdepartmental zonal teams for the rescue operations. These teams are comprised of several officers from important departments such as police, ...
Two of family killed in fire in Mumbai high-rise
Two members of a family, including a child, were charred to death in a fire that gutted an apartment in a residential high-rise in suburban Andheri on Tuesday night, officials said Wednesday. The blaze started around 8.20 pm in the apartment located on 10th floor of the 21-storey building when the family was performing a puja, an official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) disaster management cell said. The flames later spread to some portion of 11th floor of the building located on Veera Desai Road, he said. As the fire engulfed the flat on the 10th floor, two of its occupants tried to take shelter near the iron grille of a window in their drawing room, but got charred to death, an official at the Oshiwara police station said. The deceased were identified as Sagar Sharma (7) and Vicky Sharma (25), he said. Three other family members were later rescued from the bedroom. One of them received 25 per cent burn injuries and was admitted to a nearby hospital, he
FAA, Boeing study need for 737 MAX software changes after crash
WASHINGTON/SEATTLE (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing Co are evaluating the need for software or design changes to 737 MAX jets in the wake of last month's deadly Lion Air crash in Indonesia, the regulator said on Tuesday.
FAA denies report on new probe of Boeing's safety analyses on 737 MAX
(Reuters) - The U.S. aviation regulator denied on Tuesday a report that it had launched a new probe of the safety analyses performed over the years by Boeing Co on its 737 MAX models, following the crash of a Lion Air jet in Indonesia last month.
10 killed in truck-car collusion in China
At least ten persons were killed in a truck-car collision in China's north-western Shaanxi Province, police said on Wednesday. The accident Tuesday night happened when the heavy truck collided with the car on a road in the Xi'an city, the traffic police authorities said. Nine persons were killed and three more were injured. One of the injured died in a hospital. Two injured are still being treated at the Tangdu Hospital, and they are in stable conditions, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the doctors as saying.
Farmer killed in road accident in UP's Muzaffarnagar
One person was killed and another injured after their buffalo cart was hit by a truck near Ramraj village here, police said Wednesday. Surjit Singh, a farmer, was killed while Shiv Kumar was injured in the accident on Tuesday, they said. Kumar, also a farmer, was admitted to a local hospital and his condition was stated as serious, police said. The truck hit their cart when they were returning from a sugar mill after delivering sugarcane. A case was registered and a search launched to trace the truck driver, they said.
Two killed in Mumbai high-rise blaze
At least two persons were killed when a fire broke out on the 10-11 floors of a building in Andheri West, late on Tuesday night, an official said.
Two dead in Mumbai fire
At least two people died and several others sustained injuries after a fire broke out in a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) building here.The incident occurred at around 8:30 PM in the 10th and 11th floor of the Kadam Chawl SRA building, near Oberoi Towers in Andheri West's Veera Desai road.Further information is awaited.
Fire in Mumbai high-rise
Fire broke out in a residential high-rise on Veera Desai road in suburban Andheri Tuesday evening, an official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said. While fire brigade personnel rescued three persons, another person was missing and the efforts to douse the flames were underway, said an official of the Disaster Management Cell of the BMC. The blaze started at 8.21 pm on the fifth and sixth floor of the 21-storey building, he said. As a precaution, people living on the fourth and seventh floors were evacuated, he said. Five fire engines and four jumbo water tankers have been pressed into service and the fire is now under control, he added. Cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.
Capt Kathpalia removed as AI Director Ops, to face probe
Air India's Director for Operations Capt Arvind Kathpalia was on Tuesday removed from his post by the government while the national carrier announced a probe against him, a day after aviation regulator DGCA suspended his flying licence for three years for failure to clear a pre-flight alcohol test. Capt Amitabh Singh, currently Executive Director for Training, has been given additional charge of the post, a Civil Aviation Ministry order stated, while noting that the action was taken against Kathpalia due to "failure to course correct" even after earlier suspension of flying licence for three months in February 2017 for skipping breath analyser test. He was grounded by the airline Sunday after he tested positive for alcohol in two breath analyser (BA) tests before he was to operate Air India's New Delhi-London flight. Air India, in a statement on Tuesday, announced a detailed probe by the chief vigilance officer into the November 11 incident which led to the action against Kathpalia, ..
Mild quake hits parts of Kutch
An earthquake measuring 3.4 on Richter scale hit parts of Kutch district in Gujarat Tuesday, an official said. No casualty or damage to property was reported in the mild-intensity quake, the official said. The epicentre of the quake was recorded 13 kms north north-west (NNW) from Bhachau in Kutch district, the official of the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said. "A quake measuring 3.4 on Richter scale was felt in Kutch at 3:37 pm with its epicentre being 13 kilometres NNW of Bhachau," the official said. A quake measuring 3.1 on Richter scale was felt in the same region on November 10. The next day, a 3.3 intensity quake was recorded in the district with its epicentre near Bela. A devastating earthquake had shook Kutch district in January 2001, killing thousands of people and destroying lakhs of homes.
Air India to conduct inquiry into pilot's failed breath test
Air India's Chief Vigilance Officer will conduct a detailed inquiry into the administrative and disciplinary aspects of Captain Arvind Kathpalia's failed breath test and the impact of his actions on the passengers' safety, a statement from the national airlines confirmed.Kathpalia was found positive in a pre-flight breath analyser test and declared 'not fit to fly'. He was scheduled to fly AI-111 flight from Delhi to London on November 11. Earlier today, he was relieved from the charge of Director (Operations) with immediate effect.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also suspended his flying licence for three years after he failed the breath analyser (BA) test before his flight."The aforesaid facts, apart from being a violation of CAR, have serious implications on passenger safety, and an administrative inquiry has been ordered. Chief Vigilance Officer, Air India Limited would conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident of 11th November 2018 and on the administrative ...
2 NDRF teams on standby in Puducherry; CM chairs review meet
Puducherry government Tuesday put its machinery on full alert to meet the impact of cyclone 'Gaja' which is expected to cross the neighbouring Tamil Nadu coast between Cuddalore and Pamban. Chief Minister V Narayanasamy chaired a review meeting with officials of various departments to ascertain the preparedness. He said two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have arrived here and they would be positioned here and Karaikal near Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu. Narayanasamy said he had directed all the departments to deploy man power adequately and also keep ready equipment needed to pump out water from low lying areas as rainfall was expected to be intense in Puducherry and Karaikal under the impact of the cyclone. Relief centres would also be operating, he said adding the weather report made available to the government showed the cyclone would bring in its wake heavy rains in Puducherry and Karaikal regions. He said fishermen were asked not to venture into ..
Traffic cop run over by truck, driver held
An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) died after being hit by a truck here on Tuesday, police said. The 22-year-old truck driver has been held.
Air India sacks operations director after he fails breath tests, to conduct probe
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Air India's director of operations Arvind Kathpalia, who failed two breathalyser tests before he was scheduled to be a pilot on a London to New Delhi flight on Sunday, has been fired and the airline will carry out an investigation into his conduct, the company said.
Authorities issue avalanche warning after fresh snowfall in Kashmir
Authorities in the Kashmir Valley Tuesday issued a low-danger avalanche warning for seven districts after fresh snowfall in the higher areas, an official said here. A low-danger avalanche warning was issued for 24 hours in avalanche-prone areas of Bandipora, Baramulla, Anantnag, Kulgam, Budgam, Kupwara and Ganderbal districts in view of fresh snowfall, he said. People of these areas have been asked not to go in the avalanche-prone areas, the official said. Most of the higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley have been witnessing snowfall or rain since Monday, forcing closure of many roads, including the Srinagar-Leh highway and the Mughal road, which connects the valley to Poonch-Rajouri region in Jammu division of the state.
'Cyclone Gaja may become marginally severe storm within next 24 hours'
National Weather Forecasting head K Sathi Devi on Tuesday said that there is a possibility of Gaja becoming a marginally severe cyclonic storm."At present, Gaja Cyclone is maintaining the intensity of a cyclonic storm. However, there is a slight possibility of it becoming a marginal severe cyclonic storm. We are expecting it to happen within the next 24 hours".She also added that extremely heavy rainfall is expected in coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, "From tomorrow evening, there may be an increase in isolated heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu and south coastal Andhra Pradesh. On November 15, extremely heavy rainfall is expected in coastal districts of Tamil Nadu".Chennai's meteorological department Director S Balachandran warned fishermen not to venture into the sea till November 15. Balachandran said, "Cyclone Gaja is lying about 790 kilometres northeast of Nagapattinam. It is expected to move in south-southwest direction and cross between Pamban and Cuddalore by the afternoon of ...
Four killed in separate road accidents in Rajasthan
Four people, including an Army jawan, were killed in road accidents Rajasthan's Bharatpur and Karauli districts, police said Tuesday. Three motorcycle-borne men were killed when an unidentified vehicle hit them on the Bharatpur-Gangapur Mega Highway on Monday night, Station House Officer, Suroth, Sayed Sharif Ali Khan said. The deceased were identified as Bhagwan Singh Jatav (35), his nephew Vikram Jatav (19) and Ravi Jatav (19). The victims were on their way to attend a religious ceremony when the accident occurred, he said. In Bhatapur, an army jawan was killed when an unidentified vehicle hit his bike in an area under the Rupbas police station. The jawan was identified as Jitendra Singh Jat (22). He was posted in Leh-Ladakh, Station House Officer, Rupbas, Madan Lal Meena said. Bodies of all four victims were handed over to their family members after post mortem, police said.
12 injured in UP road accident
Twelve persons were injured when the bus they were travelling in collided with a truck on Pilibhit-Puranpur road Tuesday, police said. The accident took place when the truck, while overtaking the roadways bus suddenly slowed down to avoid hitting a stationary truck on the roadside, they said. The injured were taken to a nearby community health centre where three of the critically injured passengers were referred to the district hospital, they added. The truck driver managed to flee the spot along with his vehicle, said police.