Page 409 - Disaster Accident
14 shops gutted in Battala market fire
Fourteen shops were gutted in a fire that broke out at Battala market here on Thursday, a fire officer said. Officer-in charge of Agartala Fire Station, Bhajan Dey said they received a call at 4.20 am, from a pedestrian who had spotted the fire early morning on Thursday. Seven fire tenders were rushed to the market to douse the blaze, he said. No one was injured in the incident as the fire broke out in the early hours when the market remains closed, he said. The prominent market at Battala houses shops that sell items such as garments, groceries, fruits, vegetables and fish. "It took about two hours for the fire fighters to douse the flames. Fourteen shops were gutted and the initial damage was estimated at Rs 40 lakh," Dey told reporters. A short circuit might have triggered the fire, the fire officer said the exact cause of the blaze was being ascertained. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb visited the market and said that the losses would be compensated from the Chief ..
Yemen famine could become worst in living memory: UN
The ongoing famine in Yemen could become one of the worst famines in living memory, a top UN emergency relief official has warned.
1 killed in Bengal road accident
One person was killed when a public bus overturned on the National Highway 116B in West Bengal's East Midnapore district on Thursday, the police said.
Train tragedy averted in UP
A train tragedy was averted on Thursday by a railway employee who discovered a fracture on the tracks on the busy Lucknow-Kanpur route, officials said.
Super typhoon devastates US territory
Super Typhoon Yutu slammed into the US territory of the Northern Mariana Islands on Thursday destroying homes and cutting power and water to thousands of residents.
MCL repairs Titli-hit road in Gajapati
The Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) Thursday said it had repaired an important road stretching 7.5 km in Odisha's Gajapati district, which was severely damaged in recent cyclone 'Titli'. The repair of the road has led to restoration of vehicular movement from Kainpur to Burkhat pass in Rayagada block and reopened access to the famous hilly tourist destination of Mahendragiri, the company said in a statement. MCL took up the repair work responding to the request of the Odisha government. Vehicular movement on the route resumed Tuesday.
Reusable wood sponge can clean up oil spills
Scientists have developed reusable sponges made from wood that can soak up oil spills from water bodies. Although oil and water don't mix, separating and recovering each component can be challenging. The material, developed by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Forestry, selectively absorbs oil, and can be squeezed out and used again. Over the years, scientists have developed numerous techniques to clean up oily water. However, many of these methods suffer from limitations, such as low efficiency, secondary pollution and high cost. More recently, researchers have explored 3D porous materials, such as aerogels or sponges, based on various building blocks including synthetic polymers, silica or cellulose nanofibers. However, these are often difficult to fabricate, lack mechanical robustness or are made from nonrenewable, nondegradable materials. Xiaoqing Wang and colleagues from Chinese Academy of Forestry wanted to develop a sponge made from wood -- a renewable resource -- that ...
Injuries reported in Marianas after Super Typhoon Yutu hits
Super Typhoon Yutu crossed over the US commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands early Thursday as the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, making it the strongest storm to hit any part of the US this year, the National Weather Service said. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marina Islands' delegate to US Congress, said the territory will need significant help to recover from the storm, which he said injured several people. In a telephone interview with The Associated Press from Saipan, Sablan said he has heard reports of injuries and that people are waiting at the island's hospital to be treated. He could not provide further details or official estimates of casualties. "There's a lot of damage and destruction," Sablan said. "It's like a small war just passed through." Sablan said the entire island sustained damage, but there are areas that are worse than others. He has not been able to reach officials on the territory's neighbour islands of Tinian ..
Two killed in fire at slum cluster in Pune
Two persons were killed in a fire mishap at a slum area here in Maharashtra in the wee hours of Thursday, a police official said. The blaze erupted after a gas cylinder exploded around 3 am in a shanty located at Dalvinagar inPimpri Chinchwad area on the city's outskirts, he said. The fire spread rapidly and engulfed five other shanties in the neighbourhood, the official said. Two persons were killed in the mishap, while all other residents of the slum area immediately ran out of their houses to a safer place, he said. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze was extinguished, he said. The deceased were identified as Pradip Mote (38) and Shankar Kshirsagar (35), the official said, adding that a case was registered in connection with the incident.
Two killed in explosion in cracker stockpile in Varanasi
Two persons were killed and half-a-dozen others injured on Wednesday in Varanasi in an explosion in what seemed to be illegal stockpiling of fire crackers ahead of Diwali, police said.
1 dead in Mumbai boat capsizing
One person was confirmed to have lost his life in the boat capsizing incident off the coast of Mumbai on Wednesday.The deceased, identified as 25-year-old Sidhesh Pawar, was part of a group of officials who were undertaking a visit to the Shivaji Smarak memorial earlier in the day when the boat capsized in the Arabian Sea.The boat was ferrying a total of 25 people, including senior government officials, 24 of whom were safely evacuated.The boat had overturned due to a collision with an unknown object as the officials were going to inspect the construction work at the memorial, which was slated to begin today.The Coast Guard had dispatched a hovercraft and a helicopter to aid in the rescue operation.
Maha boat capsize: 'Navy, Coast Guard's timely help averted
The capsizing of a boat in Arabian sea off the Mumbai coast Wednesday could have turned into a major tragedy had the Indian Navy and Coast Guard not acted quickly, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said while ordering a probe into the mishap that claimed one life. Fadnavis also announced a financial aid of Rs 5 lakh to the family of a man who drowned in the afternoon incident that occurred when officials were on their way to the site of the proposed sea memorial of Maratha king Chhatrapti Shivaji, where work was to begin Wednesday. "The boat accident was unfortunate. Due to the timely help and assistance provided by the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard, a major accident was averted. The state government will conduct an inquiry into the incident," Fadnavis told reporters here. Expressing deep grief and condolences to the family of the deceased, identified as Siddhesh Pawar, Fadnavis said, "The Maharashtra government declares an assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the ...
Rs 615 cr Gogha- Dahej Ro-Pax Ferry service project set to start on Oct 27
The 650-crore Ro-Pax ferry service project to connect Saurashtra and Dahej in Gujarat is set start this week after a successful trial run, the government said Wednesday. The Gogha- Dahej Ro-Pax Ferry service project with a capacity to carry 500 passengers along with 100 vehicles would reduce the travel distance to just 31 km via sea route from 294 km through road between the two places. A ro-ro ferry service for passengers is already operational between Gogha in Saurashtra and Dahej. The project to connect Saurashtra and South Gujarat, under Sagarmala, is first of its kind in India as it is being executed in the area of world's second highest tidal range, the government said. "The Prime Minister's dream project of Gogha- Dahej Ro-Pax Ferry service is all ready to start under the Sagarmala programme of the Ministry of Shipping. In a successful trial run conducted recently, 12 loaded trucks were transported by the Ro- Pax ferry from Dahej to Gogha across the Gulf of Cambay, via the sea .
Maha boat mishap: Survivor hints at skipper's judgement error
An "error of judgement" on part of the skipper of the twin-engine boat in not taking a longer route could be a prima facie cause behind the boat capsize incident in Arabian Sea off Mumbai coast Wednesday, claimed a survivor. He said the skipper should have taken a longer route to reach the site of the proposed Chhartapati Shivaji memorial because the area, known as Prongs Reef Lighthouse, is rocky. He said the boat hit the rocky patch when it was around 400 metres away from the Mumbai coast. "The skipper should not taken the boat from the prongs area because it is very difficult to negotiate rocks," said the survivor who is a reporter of a city-based English tabloid. Around 24-25 people, including a couple of state government officials, were present on the boat at the time of the accident, he said. "I was sitting next to the driver. The boat was running at slightly high speed. The area of accident is the southernmost tip of Mumbai," he said. The journalist said that ...
Rlys form inquiry panel to probe Santragachhi stampede
The Railways Wednesday formed a four-member committee to probe into the circumstances that led to the stampede at Santragachi station which claimed two lives and left 15 injured, a South Eastern Railway (SER) spokesperson said. The stampede had occurred Tuesday evening when an express train and two EMU locals arrived at the Santragachi station at the same time and passengers rushed to the platforms to board the trains. The inquiry panel comprising SER principal chief commercial manager, principal chief engineer, principal chief security commissioner-cum-IG and chief safety officer will look into allegations of "negligence" levelled against the Railways in the mishap, SER spokesperson Sanjay Ghosh said. "Among other allegations, the committee will also probe claims of a last-minute change in platform for an incoming train which apparently led to cross-movement of passengers on the foot overbridge at the station," he said. The probe panel visited the site to study the ...
Centre issues notice to Air Odisha for suspending flights from Jharsuguda
The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a show-cause notice to Air Odisha for unavailability of flight to and from Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda.
FIR lodged in stampede case, railways forms probe panel
The police on Wednesday lodged an FIR against unknown persons while the South Eastern Railway formed a four-member probe panel in connection with the stampede at Santragachi station that left two people dead and a dozen others injured on Tuesday.
One dead as boat carrying 25 persons capsizes off Mumbai (2nd Lead)
One person was killed and two injured after a speed boat carrying around 25 persons hit an underwater rock and later capsized while on a trip for a 'puja' ceremony at the proposed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai on Wednesday.
One missing as boat carrying 40 persons capsizes off Mumbai
One person was missing as a speed boat carrying around 40 persons hit an underwater rock and later capsized while on a trip for a 'puja' ceremony at the proposed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai on Wednesday.
Fresh cases of Zika reported in Jaipur
Fresh cases of Zikavirus were reported in Rajasthan's Jaipur on Wednesday, taking the total number of infected people to 135, a government official said. Of the total infected, 125 have recovered after treatment, a spokesperson of the Rajasthan Health Department said. The department Wednesday activated its toll-free helpline number 1800-180-6127 for medical consultation and safety-related information about the disease. The helpline will remain functional from 8am to 8pm, the spokesperson said. Larvae destroying activities and fogging in colonies here was done in the morning as well as in the evening, he said. The department has appealed to the people to keep doors of their residences and shops open and asked those with breathing difficulties to remain at bay during fogging activities. Most of the cases which have been reported are from the Shastri Nagar area in Jaipur where fogging and other anti-larvae activities are being carried out to prevent the spread of the virus. The virus, ...