Page 417 - Disaster Accident
Tractor returning from idol immersion overturns, 3 killed
Three persons were killed and six others got injured when their tractor-trolley overturned in Madhya Pradesh's Katni, nearly 360-kilometres from state capital Bhopal.The incident happened late on Saturday when the vehicle was returning after the immersion of Durga idols.The tractor turned turtle while the driver, trying to save a cow, lost control of the vehicle.The injured people were rushed to a hospital in Vijayraghavgarh, nearly 38-kilometres from the accident site.
2 killed, 20 workers trapped in coal mine accident in China
A rock burst has ripped through a coal mine in east China's Shandong Province, killing at least two workers and leaving 2o others trapped, officials said. The incident happened in the coal mine in Yuncheng County, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The burst happened on Saturday night and destroyed part of a water drainage tunnel in the coal mine. At that time of the accident, 334 people were working underground, of which 312 were later lifted to safety, Zhai Minghua, an expert with Shandong Energy Group Co. Ltd, which owns the coal mine, was quoted as saying by the report. Ventilation in the coal mine has recovered and rescue work is under way. The two bodies were retrieved on Sunday and search for the remaining 20 trapped workers is underway, Zhai said, adding that the initial rescue operation was hampered by the falling of fractured rocks in the tunnel. In August, 13 miners were killed in a mine explosion in southern China. Rock burst accidents are often caused by fractures in .
Amritsar train tragedy: Swamy blames Amarinder Singh for the deadly mishap
After dozens of people were mowed down by a speeding train in Amritsar on Friday, Bharatiya Janata Party leader (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy blamed Captain Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government for not doing enough to safeguard the area near the railway tracks."The particular boundary where the accident took place belongs to Punjab state. It is the job of the state of Punjab to see that railway tracks are secured from all the sides. The Congress government should be held responsible for this," he said.Swamy said that the Punjab government should have provided a ground for the people to celebrate Dussehra without risking their lives by standing on railway tracks. He also said that an action should be taken against those who gave the permission to install a Ravana effigy near the accident spot."Why not an open ground with proper fencing was built up to conduct such a big event? Why the organisers never informed the railways about the same? An action should be taken who permitted to ...
Two elephants die in another Sri Lanka train collision
Two elephants were killed and another critically injured Sunday crossing railway tracks in Sri Lanka, officials said, in yet another tragic collision involving the protected animals and speeding trains. A Jaffna-bound night train rammed into two elephants at Ambanpola, 150 kilometres (93 miles) north of Colombo, killing one and injuring the other. In a separate accident, a passenger train derailed after hitting and killing an elephant near Palugaswewa, 160 kilometres (100 miles) north-east of Colombo. No passengers were injured in either accident. "Train services have been disrupted, but we are working to remove the carcass and repair the track on the eastern line," an official said by telephone. Speed restrictions are imposed on trains passing through elephant habitats but these are difficult to enforce. Only 10 per cent of Sri Lanka's trains are believed to be equipped with speedometers, local media reported Sunday. Two weeks ago, a passenger train struck and killed three elephants.
One-way traffic resumes on Jammu-Srinagar highway
One-way traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway resumed Sunday after authorities cleared the road of debris following a landslide, officials said. A massive landslide struck the highway -- the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country -- near Ramsoo in Ramban district Saturday evening and it took at least five hours for the agency concerned to clear the 270-km highway for traffic movement, the officials said. They said stranded vehicles were allowed to ply Saturday night itself and Srinagar-bound vehicles were allowed from Jammu Sunday morning. The traffic on the highway was going on smoothly, the officials said. Authorities restricted the traffic to one-way on the highway, alternately from Srinagar and Jammu, early this month to avoid frequent traffic snarls. The heavy movement of trucks carrying fresh fruit from Kashmir to outside markets, bi-annual move of nomadic communities especially Gujjars and Bakerwals, and the ongoing expansion work on the ...
PM announces national award in Netaji's name for disaster relief workers
A national award in the name of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose will be given every year to police personnel who do excellent work in rescue and relief operations during any kind of disaster, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Sunday. The announcement came on the 75th anniversary of Bose's declaration of the formation of India's first independent government -- the Azad Hind Government on October 21, 1943. "From this year onwards, we will give an award in the name of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose to police personnel who do exemplary work while rescuing and providing relief to people during the time of any disaster," the prime minister said in his address after dedicating to the nation a police memorial and museum here. Modi said the award will be announced on January 23, Netaji's birthday. The Prime Minister said the country cannot forget the services rendered by the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force personnel in rescue and relief works during the time of
22 workers trapped in coal mine accident in China
A rock burst has ripped through a coal mine in east China's Shandong Province, leaving at least 22 workers trapped, officials said. The incident happened in the coal mine in Yuncheng County, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted local officials as saying. The 22 miners were trapped after the rock burst on Saturday night inside the mine, the report said. Ventilation in the coal mine has recovered and rescue work is under way. In August, 13 miners were killed in a mine explosion in southern China. Though the number of deaths has reduced at coal mines in recent years, mining accidents are common in China, the world's largest coal producer.
Protest near Amritsar accident site for tracing missing persons, compensation for victims
A group of youths held protest Sunday morning near the Amritsar mishap site where at least 59 Dussehra revellers were mowed down by a speeding train. They raised slogans against the district administration claiming that some people were still missing. The protestors demanded that the missing person be traced and also adequate compensation be given to the families of the victims. "Two labourers who were living in my area are still missing," said Kamal, who is a resident of an area near Joda Phatak where at least 59 people were killed Friday evening after a Dussehra gathering watching the burning of a Ravana effigy was run over by a train. Kamal raised apprehensions that the death toll could be higher than the figure given by the government. On Saturday, after visiting the accident site and the hospitals where the injured were admitted, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had said 59 people were killed and 57 injured. Sub-divisional magistrate Rajesh Sharma, however, said 61 people lost ...
22 miners trapped in China coal mine accident
Twenty-two miners were trapped following a coal mine accident in China's Shandong province, authorities reported on Sunday.
J-K: 1 labourer dead, 5 injured after under-construction shop collapses
A 19-year-old labourer died while five others sustained injuries after an under construction double-storeyed shop collapsed in Johnu area in Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir.The incident, which took place on Saturday evening, involved labourers who were all natives of Ramban district.On receiving information from locals, police and the Army reached the spot and immediately initiated the rescue operation.Explaining the incident, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Udhampur, Rayees Bhat, said: "The labourers were working in the under construction shop while a shuttering felt and whole building collapsed."Further details are awaited.
Hurricane Michael: Death toll mounts to 36
The death toll for Hurricane Michael has risen to 36.According to CNN, people from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia are among those who have lost their lives as a result of the deadly storm.The latest death toll comes 20 days after the storm hit the Florida Panhandle.Before speeding to Florida Panhandle, the dreaded storm had also wreaked havoc in Central America, where 13 people were reported dead.Hours before making a landfall, the storm had upgraded from Category 3 to 4, making it one of the strongest storms to hit Florida Panhandle in recent historyTerming it as "extremely dangerous", the National Weather Service had deemed the storm as life-threatening.
Floods in Qatar as almost a year's rain falls in one day
Qatar was hit by widespread flash flooding on Saturday as the desert state received almost a year's worth of rainfall in one day. Roads became impassable, air traffic was disrupted and homes were flooded, while shops and universities closed. Qatar broadcaster Al Jazeera's senior meteorologist, Steff Gaulter, tweeted that one part of the capital Doha had experienced almost a year's worth of rain on Saturday. "Abu Hamor (a suburb) now reporting 59.8mm. (Doha average annual rainfall is 77mm.)," she wrote. By early evening it was estimated that 61mm of rain had fallen. Qatar Airways was forced to divert some flights, creating logistical headaches, as neighbours Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are among states that do not allow Doha to use their airspace, due to an ongoing diplomatic rift. Some Qatar-bound flights were forced to divert to Kuwait and Iran and the airline warned its passengers to expect further problems. "Due to weather conditions over Doha, flights are .
Police gave NOC for the event, but no permission from civic authorities: Officials
The police gave a no objection certificate' for the Dussehra event here but the organisers held it without seeking the required permission from municipal authorities, officials said Saturday, a day after a train mowed down at least 59 revellers. In their letter seeking the certificate, the organisers had also asked for security arrangements, citing the expected presence of Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and his wife, former MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu, at the event. But eyewitnesses complained the arrangements for the safety of people at the ground along the tracks near Joda Phatak were not adequate. "Why did the government not ensure proper security arrangements? Why was such a function allowed to take place near the railway tracks?" asked Sujit Singh. Funeral pyres were lit at city's cremation grounds Saturday for 39 of those killed when a train from Jalandhar tore through people standing on the tracks for a better view of Ravana going up in flames. Railway officials said no ...
Amritsar train tragedy: SAD demands Rs 1 cr compensation for kin of dead
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore per person and government jobs for the families of those killed in the tragic train accident here. Badal demanded immediate dismissal of Punjab minster Navjot Singh Sidhu from the cabinet besides registration of a fresh FIR against his family based on statements of the victims. He alleged that Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur was solely answerable for the accident as she was the chief guest at the Dussehra function and responsible for holding such a big event sans security and safety measures. She has been facing criticism for allegedly leaving the site of accident "without bothering" about the victims. The former deputy chief minister also demanded action against organisers of the function, saying they were responsible for making the people stand on the railway track.
Amritsar train accident: Councillor behind Dussehra event goes undergound
Municipal corporation councillor Vijay Madan and her son Sourabh Madan Mithu, the main organisers of the Dussehra celebration in Amritsar where at least 59 people were run over by a passing train, have gone underground with other family members. According to police, a few people angry over the accident attacked their residence, broke window panes and pelted stones on Saturday. Following this, the Madan family members have gone to an undisclosed location and also switched off their mobile phones. However, police personnel have been deployed at the residence. Vijay Madan is the sitting councillor from ward number 29 falling under the Amritsar East assembly constituency. The Madan family members were the main organisers of the Dussehra event where the train accident took place. The accident happened when a crowd of Dussehra revellers spilled onto the railway tracks near Joda Phatak and could not see the train approaching them. They were crushed under the wheels of the train coming from ..
Over 5k people standing on railway tracks, claims organiser in video
Just before the train accident here, an organiser of the Dussehra event had boasted on stage before former MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu that over 5,000 people were standing on train tracks to witness the function, according to a purported video which has gone viral. "Madam (Navjot Kaur Sidhu), look here. They (people) do not care about the railway tracks even as 500 trains pass by. Over 5,000 people are standing on the railway track at this moment," a man is heard saying in the microphone on the stage. At least 59 people were killed Friday evening when a train ran over a crowd of Dussehra revellers that had spilled onto railway tracks while watching the burning of Ravana and other effigies near Joda Phatak here. When Sidhu, who was the chief guest at the event, was asked about the presence of the large crowd on the tracks, she said several announcements were made from the stage, asking them to move to the Dhobi Ghat ground where the traditional burning of effigies was being held. "At least ..
A day after train tragedy, rail traffic on Amritsar-Jalandhar route still blocked
A day after the train tragedy in which 59 people watching Dusshera effigy burning were crushed to death by a speeding train, the traffic on the Jalandhar-Amritsar route has not yet been restored, officials said.
Independent agency should conduct inquiry into Amritsar mishap: Sukhbir Badal
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday said that an independent agency should conduct an inquiry into Amristar train tragedy that claimed lives of 59 people.He further attacked Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government for taking the incident "lightly". "The present government is taking the accident lightly as Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said that inquiry report will come after four weeks. An FIR should be registered on the statements of the victims. An inquiry should be done by an independent agency."The SAD leader also asked the Chief Minister to take action against those responsible for the accident.Meanwhile, former minister and secretary of SAD, Bikram Singh Majithia said that ruling government should be held accountable for the incident as it did not inform the railways about the event being organised there."A case is being filed against four unknown people, on the basis of the statement made by a police officer, who was
Four killed as car collides with lorry
Four people, including two teenage girls, were killed and five others, including a six-month old baby, injured Saturday when their car collided with a lorry near Hosur, police said. The occupants of the car had participated in a prayer meeting and were returning when the driver reportedly took a turn without noticing a fast approaching lorry and collided with it, they said. The injured have been admitted to hospital.
Amritsar tragedy: Railways to launch massive anti-trespassing drive, budget to be 'no constraint'
The railways will launch a massive drive against trespassing on tracks across its network, Chairman Railway Board Ashwani Lohani said Saturday, a day after 59 Dussehra revellers were run over by a train in an incident described by the railways as a "clear case of trespassing". Lohani said the railways has launched such campaigns in the past as well, but intermittently. The national transporter had initiated a drive last year too, after a slew of 'selfie deaths' on tracks were reported from across the country. "We will launch a nationwide campaign against trespassing and the dangers thereof. This is all that we can do to avoid such tragedies," he said. In the first six months of 2017, more than eight people lost their lives in accidents while clicking selfies on tracks, officials said, adding a campaign was launched after these reports. In 2018, as of September, 1,20,923 people were arrested and prosecuted by the railway protection force (RPF) for intruding the railway system. Under ...