Page 414 - Disaster Accident
4 fire incidents in last 24 hours, air quality 'very poor'
Four fire-related incidents were reported in the capital in the last 24 hours, the fire office said.
Event organiser cries foul, says train mishap an 'act of god'
Sourabh Madan Mithu, who organised the Dussehra event that ended with the death of 59 spectators on a railway track in Amritsar, on Monday cried foul and said that he had taken all preventive measures and permissions before organising the event.Mithoo, released a video narrating his ordeal. He also alleged that a conspiracy is being hatched to defame him.In a one and a half minute long video message recorded from an unknown location, Mithoo clarified that he had alerted people standing on the railway tracks to vacate the premises, but the announcements in the connection was over looked by the spectators who were engrossed in watching the Dussehra fireworks.Grieving the loss, Mithoo said that the accident was 'an act of god'.In his video message, he said, "I am deeply pained. We celebrated Dussehra and took all the permission required. Keeping in mind the safety of people we also demarcated a 20 feet safety area around the Ravan's effigy. We did not miss anything from our side. About
NHRC notices to Punjab government, Chairman, Railway Board over Amritsar train tragedy
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued notices to Punjab government and Chairman, Railway Board, over the Amritsar tragedy in which over 60 people were crushed to death by a train while watching the burning of the Dusshera effigy.
Toll rises to 3 in China coal mine accident
The toll in the coal mine accident in eastern China has rose to three following the death of one of the two rescued miners during treatment, local authorities said on Monday. Two miners had died while 18 other remain trapped after a rock burst ripped through a coal mine of the Longyun Coal Mining Company Ltd in Yuncheng county of Shangdong province on Saturday. Two miners were rescued Sunday afternoon. They were undergoing treatment at a hospital in Shangdong. Around 334 people were working underground at the time of the accident, of which 312 were lifted to safety. "One of the two miners rescued after a rock burst accident at a coal mine died in hospital in East China's Shandong province on Sunday night, taking the death toll to three," local authorities were quoted as saying in the state-run China Daily. Eighteen workers were still trapped in the mine, it said, adding around 170 rescue workers were taking part in the rescue operation which continued on Monday.
NHRC notices to Pb, Railway Board over train mowing down Dussehra revellers in Amritsar
The NHRC on Monday issued notices to the Railways and the Punjab government over the Amritsar accident in which nearly 60 Dussehra revellers were killed when they were run over by a train while watching the festivities. Issuing the notices, the Commission observed that it cannot be said to be a "sane act" by people to sit on railway tracks, but at the same time, the "negligence on the part of the district authorities is apparent" behind this "bizarre and horrific incident". The National Human Rights Commission issued notices to the state's chief secretary and the chairman of the Railway Board seeking detailed reports in the matter in four weeks, an NHRC spokesperson said. The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports that many people died on the spot and several others got seriously injured in Amritsar district of Punjab, where several people watching Dussehra celebrations from the railway tracks were mowed down by a passenger train on October 19. "It seems that the local ...
CIL offers 5mn ton coal to NTPC to reduce pithead stock
CIL has offered an additional five million tonnes of coal to the country's largest power generator NTPC with tweaked terms in a bid to reduce pithead stock. Coal India officials said on Monday that the company has offered five million tonnes of coal to NTPC which is required to be lifted via road to reduce import. Coal from CIL is normally transported by rakes as per Fuel Supply Agreement. The coal ministry had pulled up Coal India and had desired that the miner dilutes it pithead stock by 10 million tonne from about 21 million tonne as on September to push supplies in the festive season. CIL has relaxed its terms to push more coal. The officials said that against the normal supply term of cash and carry, the release of five million tonne against this offer shall be made on credit basis without insisting on any advance payment. NTPC would make the payment after receipt of invoices, they said. CIL has asked NTPC to immediately contact its subsidiaries to avail the benefit
No flood threat now in Arunachal, Assam: China on formation of artificial lake in Brahmaputra
China on Monday said the flood situation in Yarlung Tsangpo river has "returned to normal" after it posed a threat to India's northeastern states following the formation of an artificial lake created by a landslide in Tibet. China also said it will continue to share the flood data with India. People living along the banks of Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh were moved to safer places after China informed India about the landslide, which occurred on October 17, blocking Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet leading to the formation of the artificial lake. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday had also directed authorities in districts bordering Arunachal Pradesh to "remain alert" for possible flash flood and take all possible steps to prevent any major catastrophe. The Yarlung Tsangpo river is known as the Siang after it enters India at Arunachal Pradesh from the Tibetan region and is called the Brahmaputra once it reaches Assam. "By October 20, the river section of the barrier .
Cyclone Titli: Odisha clears damage assistance of Rs 2,270 cr
The Odisha government on Monday approved damage assistance to the tune of Rs 2,270 crore for districts hit by Cyclone 'Titli' and subsequent floods earlier this month. "A sum of Rs 375 crore has been earmarked for worst-affected Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada districts," said Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi. He said district collectors have already been given Rs 102 crore for provision of first instalment of Gratuitous Relief (GR). The remaining amount will be transferred to bank accounts of the affected persons. The state government has sanctioned Rs 27 crore for the Energy Department to undertake restoration activities, and Rs 20 crore has been given to Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department towards relief materials. Sethi said the BJD government will also focus on the four adjoining districts like Boudh, Nayagarh, Dhenkanal and Kandhamal, hit by the cyclone and flood.
13 members of one family among 20 killed in road accident in Pakistan
Thirteen members of a family who were on their way to pilgrimage were among the 20 people killed when two buses collided head on in Pakistan's Punjab province that also left 30 others injured, officials said on Monday. The accident happened on Sunday night in the D G Khan district of Punjab when a bus coming from Multan collided with another passenger bus coming from the opposite direction. Twenty people including women and children were dead. The dead included 13 members of a family from Multan. The members of the family were going to Karachi to visit shrines of Sufi saints in Sindh, said Deeba Shahnaz, spokesperson of Rescue 1122, an emergency service that serves the Punjab Province. According to Rescue 1122, some 30 passengers suffered injuries and of them the condition of 10 passengers is stated to be critical. Citing witnesses, Shahnaz said that the accident happened when driver of the bus coming from Multan collided in an attempt to save a motorcyclist. "The accident was so ...
Tollywood producer Daggubati Suresh Babu booked for rash driving
Renowned Tollywood producer Daggubati Suresh Babu has been booked for rash driving. Three people of a family, including a child, were injured in the accident.The incident, took place last night around 11 pm near Secunderabad, after which a case was registered against Suresh Babu under section 337 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).According to the Circle Inspector of Karkhana police station, Suresh Babu was traveling from Karkhana to Secunderabad in his car. The affected family was on a two-wheeler which was coming from the opposite direction. The injured include Satish Chandra (35), Durga Devi (30) and their son Siddesh Chandra (3).The speeding car rammed into the two-wheeler, after which Suresh Babu allegedly fled from the spot.In the incident, the family members sustained severe injuries and were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.The police have confiscated the car which was involved in the accident and further investigation is underway in the case.
Minor killed, 14 injured in bus accident in Noida
A private bus en route to New Delhi from Agra met with an accident here in the early hours on Monday resulting in the death of a minor girl and injuries to 14 passengers, police said. The incident was reported around 3 am, when the bus carrying around 45 people rammed into a divider near the Mahamaya Flyover, a police official said. "The driver of the bus was drowsy and prima facie, this led to the accident," Station House Officer (SHO), Sector 39 police station, Amit Kumar Singh said. "A 10-year-old girl was killed in the incident, while 14 passengers were hospitalised with injuries," he said. Most of the injured, including the driver, were admitted to the district hospital in Noida, while some were rushed to the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, Singh added.
Four earthquakes strike off Canada's west coast
Four earthquakes -- measuring from 4.9 to 6.8 magnitude -- struck in quick succession off Canada's west coast late Sunday, the US Geological Survey said. The epicenter of the first 6.6 tremor, at 10:39pm (0549 GMT Monday), was located 135 miles (218 kilometers) southwest of Port Hardy -- a small municipality on the northeastern tip of British Columbia's Vancouver Island -- and 355 miles northwest of Seattle. The second stronger quake, measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, occurred 122 miles southwest of the Canadian town more than half an hour later, at 11:16pm. Six minutes later, a third 6.5 magnitude tremor was registered 138 miles southwest of Port Hardy -- before a weaker 4.9 quake was recorded in the same place 14 minutes after that. There were no initial reports of damage or injuries, and no tsunami warnings were issued. The region is located near the Cascadia subduction zone, a mammoth fault line that lies offshore, stretching from northern Vancouver Island to Northern California
2 cops among 4 killed, 4 others hurt as car hits tractor
: Four people, including two police constables, died and four others were injured in an accident involving a car and a tractor-trailer near here, police said Monday. The accident occurred Sunday evening when the car hit the trailer and went out of control before running into an electricity post, the police said. The injured were undergoing treatment at a hospital, they said.
Couple among 4 persons dead in accident in J&K
A couple was among four people who died in two separate accidents on the highway in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, police said Monday, adding two others were injured. A couple was travelling on a motorcycle on the highway at Lakhanpur in the district when another vehicle hit them Monday, they said. 60-year old Manohar Lal and Taro Devi (52) died on the spot, police said. In the other incident, a car crashed into a truck Sunday night on the highway in Kathua, resulting in the death of two men. Two other persons were critically injured, they said. The deceased have been identified as Sahil (26) and Rahul (27) of Jammu. The injured have been admitted to the Government Medical College hospital here, police added.
No flood threat now in Arunachal, says China on Tibet landslide
China on Monday said that the water levels have dropped and situation has returned to normal following an overflow at a barrier lake, which was formed due to a landslide that blocked a river in Tibet last week, threatening floods in Arunachal Pradesh.
Four Nepalese nationals killed in accident
Four Nepalese nationals were killed and three others were injured when their car was hit by an unidentified vehicle on the Azamragh-Gorakhpur road on Monday, police said. The accident took place near Rajadepur village when a Nepalese family was going to Varanasi from Gorakhpur, police said. Those killed have been identified as Navin Shreshta (41), his wife Kanjali (38), father Gorakh Shreshta (65) and brother Upendra (36), police said, adding three of the injured, including two women of the family and the car driver, have been admitted to a district hospital. The deceased hailed from Sindhuli district of Nepal, police added.
Several powerful earthquakes strike off the shore of Canada
Several powerful earthquakes have been reported near Vancouver Island, Canada, including a magnitude 6.8. The US Geological Survey says several powerful quakes were reported Sunday evening. The depth the largest is about 6 miles (10 kilometres) and it struck about 149 miles (239 kilometres) west of Tofino, Canada. Geophysicist Amy Vaughan says the three larger quakes ranged from magnitude 6.5 to 6.8 and that there were possibly some smaller ones as well as some aftershocks. Vaughan says the quakes were lightly felt onshore and that as of now no injuries were reported. The National Tsunami Warning Center tweeted that a tsunami is "Not expected".
Chris O'Donnell sued for car accident caused by daughter
A personal trainer named Tracy Sutton is suing "NCIS: Los Angeles" star Chris O'Donnell for a car accident his daughter caused.
Siang flowing at normal level in Arunachal Pradesh: Official
Days after Arunachal Pradesh was put on high alert for possible flash floods after China informed India about the formation of an artificial lake in Tibet, a senior district official has allayed the fears of any eventuality. Upper Siang Deputy Commissioner Duli Kamduk said no damage was reported in the district and the Siang river was flowing at the normal level. This was also corroborated by Health and Family Welfare Minister Alo Libang, who is also the Yingkiong MLA. Round-the-clock monitoring by senior district officials and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams is on. However, the erosion of 50 metres of land by the river was reported from the Mebo area on Sunday. The erosion by the river was still continuing, Mebo MLA Lombo Tayeng told PTI over phone. People living along the banks of the Siang river were moved to safer places after China informed India about possible flash floods in the north-eastern state, officials had said Saturday. The first rush of water had reached .
Taiwan president calls for clear probe of fatal train crash
Taiwan's president pressed for a quick, transparent probe into the cause of the island's worst train crash in nearly three decades as the search of the derailed cars ended and crash investigators examined the wreckage Monday. The eight-car Puyuma express ran off the tracks as it went around a bend where the maximum speed is 75 kilometres per hour. Video footage obtained by local media showed the train striking and toppling a beam and ripping down metal structures from above the tracks as it crashed. Eighteen people were killed and 187 injured in the crash that left most of the cars damaged and five overturned in a zig-zag pattern around the tracks. Rescuers searched through the night for more victims before work crews moved the derailed cars upright to assist the investigation. "Everyone cares a lot about the cause of the accident," Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said in a statement from her office. "Therefore we request that the investigating departments must as soon as possible make .