Page 432 - Disaster Accident
Deaths reported from plane accident in central Germany
Police say there has been an accident involving an aircraft in central Germany and it resulted in deaths. Police in Hesse state said in a brief statement that the accident happened Sunday afternoon on the Wasserkuppe, a hill near Fulda. They couldn't immediately be reached for further details. German daily Bild reported that a Cessna plane flew into a group of people at an airfield. The newspaper says at least three people were killed and another eight injured.
Flood situation improves in Odisha; death toll climbs to 24
The flood situation in Odisha improved marginally Sunday, paving way for the administration to expedite the relief and restoration work, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi said. Heavy rain pounded Odisha over the last three days following Cyclone Titli's landfall on Gopalpur in the southwestern part of the state. The death toll due to the cyclonic storm mounted to 24 Sunday after 15 people were reportedly killed in a landslide at Barghar area in Gajapati, around 50 km from the district headquarters town of Paralakhemundi. While 13 bodies were found Saturday night, two more bodies were pulled out of the rubble Sunday morning, Paralakhemundi Sub-Divisional Police Officer T P Patra stated. Sethi, however, said the situation has "considerably improved in Ganjam and Gajapati districts, with water receding from low-lying areas and roads being cleared of tree trunks and electric poles". "Electricity supply has been restored in many places in Ganjam, one of the worst-affected ...
Fire at residential building in Shahdara
A fire broke out on the third floor of a residential building in Shahdara's Dilshad Colony area on Sunday, police said. The incident happened around 3 pm and two fire tenders were rushed to the spot, they added. Tajbar Singh Rawat, the owner of the house where the fire broke out, said, "I was sleeping in my bedroom and my family members were downstairs. My neighbour called out aloud after seeing smoke emanating from our drawing room. I jumped into their balcony and informed police and fire brigade." During investigation, it was revealed that the fire took place due to a short circuit in an inverter kept in the drawing room. No injuries were reported, police added.
Man injured in Bengal blast dies in Kolkata hospital
A fruit seller injured in a bomb blast in West Bengal's Dum Dum area died at a government hospital here on Sunday, police said.
Dead bodies of climbers brought to Kathmandu
The bodies of nine climbers which were retrieved by a rescue team on Sunday after they died in a violent storm on Mount Gurja have been airlifted to Kathmandu for postmortem. The nine climbers, which included five South Koreans and four Nepalese support staff, died during an unexpected violent snowstorm that buried them at the base camp at an altitude of 3,500 metres near the south face of Mount Dhaulagiri in western Nepal's Myagdi district on Friday evening. A helicopter dropped a rescue team on Sunday morning at the camp where the South Korean climbing expedition was staying, and later retrieved the bodies. The bodies were airlifted to Kathmandu and handed over to the doctors of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for postmortem. "The dead bodies have been airlifted to Kathmandu Sunday morning and handed over to the doctors at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for conducting postmortem," said Ang Pemba Sherpa, president of Trekking Agencies Association Nepal. The officials ..
Rood of under-construction building collapses, many workers feared trapped: SDM
Several labourers are feared trapped in the debris of an under-construction building whose roof collapsed Sunday, an official said. Sadar Sub Divisional Magistrate Ramji Mishra said, "The roof of an under-construction building of a private inter-college collapsed Sunday when over a dozen labourers were working in it. As a result, many labourers have been trapped in the debris." The incident occurred in an area under Ram Chandra Mission police station in the district, he said, adding the rescue work has already been started. No death has been reported so far, he said. "Nearly a dozen labourers were evacuated from the debris, in which we could still see two to three labourers trapped. JCB machines and cranes have been pressed into service to rescue them," he said, adding it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of labourers still trapped in the debris. All the injured persons were sent for treatment to nearby hospitals, the SDM said, adding the rescue work is still going on.
Odisha returning to normalcy after cyclone, flood
Odisha is fast returning to normalcy, after a cyclone and the consequent rains wreaked devastation in several coastal areas, officials said on Sunday.
Lightning kills one in AP
, Oct 14 PTI) A 31-year-old farm worker allegedly died after being struck by lightning at Pedayadara village in Krishna district Sunday, a Revenue official said. The incident occurred when B Jagapathi Rao, an agriculture labourer was returning home from the field, Machilipatnam Mandal Tahsildar K Srinivas said adding heavy rains lashed the village this afternoon. A case has been registered, police said.
13 nabbed after violence over youth's death in road accident in UP
Thirteen people were arrested following violence over the death of a youth in a road accident in Malira village, police said Sunday. The police had booked 150 people in connection with the violence and arrested 13 people Saturday, they said. Irate villagers had blocked Malira road and pelted stones after the youth was killed by a vehicle in a road accident, they added.
NASA's Opportunity Mars Rover remains silent
NASA scientists are yet to hear from the Mars Opportunity Rover, which has been silent since a global dust storm enshrouded the red planet. According to the US space agency, it is possible that a layer of dust deposited on the rover's solar panels by the dust storm is blocking sunlight that could recharge its batteries. No one can tell just how much dust has been deposited on its panels, NASA said in a statement. The agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is employing a combination of listening and commanding methods in case Opportunity is still operational. A windy period on Mars -- known to Opportunity's team as "dust-clearing season" -- occurs in the November-to-January time frame and has helped clean the rover's panels in the past. The team remains hopeful that some dust clearing may result in hearing from the rover in this period. Opportunity has exceeded its expected lifespan many times over. Both Opportunity and its twin, Spirit, were designed to last only 90 days on the Martian ...
Free Rs 5 lakh insurance cover for Vaishno Devi pilgrims
Pilgrims headed to the Vaishno Devi shrine will get free insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh.
67% people unaware of emergency kits, disaster preparedness in Kerala:Survey
People of Kerala, the state which has an envious record in several human development indicators, have largely been found to be unaware of precautionary measures and emergency kits to be used at times of disasters with two thirds of respondents of a survey pleading ignorance. The findings in the state-wide survey held just over two months after the state was devastated by unprecedented floods in a century have prompted the organiser, Kerala State Literacy Mission (KLSM), to pitch for a "disaster management literacy programme". The state is known for its high literacy, lowest infant mortality and highest life expectancy rates among others. Yet according to the survey, 66.77 per cent of people, cutting across cities and villages, were unaware of precautionary measures and emergency kits to be used at times of disasters. The detailed report of the survey-How and What the Flood-Affected Kerala Thinks-carried out by the KLSM, was released by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a function ...
Centre to develop 'model shelters' for urban homeless in states, UTs
The Centre will develop "model shelters" for urban homeless in states, which will provide several facilities like RO water, playground and television to occupants, an official said. According to the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, at least two model shelters will be developed in each state, including in its capital, under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - NationalUrbanLivelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM). An official of the ministry said model shelters will be permanent with all basic amenities for urban homeless, adding financial assistance will be provided to states and Union Territories (UTs) for the same under the mission. The ministry said currently there are 1001 shelters operational under the DAY-NULM in various states and UTs. "Two model shelters will be developed in each states and UTs, including capital and a city having one million plus population. "Instructions have been issued to states and UTs in this regard," the official said. So far, six states have been identified where
Teenager killed in snow storm
A 15-year-old boy was killed and four of his family members were injured in a snow storm in the higher reaches of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, a police official said Sunday. Over 150 sheep and goats also perished in the snow storm which swept the high altitude Hill Kaka area in Pir Panjal yesterday, trapping a Bakerwal family from Rajouri district, the official said. He said the family comprising five members was undertaking the bi-annual migration from central's Kashmir's Budgam to their Rajouri home town when they got stuck in the storm while crossing Choti Marg near Hill Kaka. After getting information about the incident, a police party with some villagers from Bafliaz reached the remote area and recovered the body of Usman Ali (15), a resident of Androte area of Rajouri, the official said. Four other family members Mohammad Aslam, his wife Bano Bi, Nazir Ahmad and Mohammad Yousuf were rescued with injuries to their feet and shifted to a hospital in Srinagar.
'Zombie' Hurricane Leslie bears down on Portugal, Spain
Heavy squalls began to hit Portugal late Saturday, with the country on red alert as Hurricane Leslie barrelled towards its coastline in what could be the fiercest storm since 1842. Neighbouring Spain was also preparing itself for what was dubbed a "zombie" hurricane, as it first formed on September 23 and has been meandering through the waters of the Atlantic Ocean for weeks. Leslie was set to make landfall in the Lisbon area overnight Saturday, by which time it is expected to have been downgraded to a tropical storm. Even before nightfall the sea was beginning to surge at beaches south of the Portuguese capital, with surfers ordered to return to shore. Portuguese authorities urged those living by the coast to stay indoors and fishermen to return to port while some flights were cancelled over warnings winds could reach up to 120 kilometres per hour (75 miles per hour). Spanish meteorologists were expecting the hurricane to hit there early Sunday. "The meteorological system has lost ..
Pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine to get free Rs five lakh insurance cover
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has approved enhancement of free accident insurance cover for pilgrims visiting the shrine to Rs 5 lakh besides free treatment to trauma victims from nearby areas. The decisions were taken at the 63rd meeting of board which was held at the Raj Bhavan here Saturday under the chairmanship of Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, who is also the Chairman of the board, an official spokesman said Sunday. He said the board approved enhancement of Group Accident Insurance cover for pilgrims. "The accident cover extended to each pilgrim free of cost shall now be Rs five lakh instead of existing Rs three lakh for pilgrims aged five years and above and Rs three lakh for pilgrims below five years of age up from Rs one lakh at present, the spokesman said. He said the board also approved additional life insurance cover of Rs five lakh to pilgrims who avail the service of the upcoming passenger ropeway between Bhawan and Bhairon Ghati. This ...
Over 70 pc road accidents occurred on bright sunny days: Report
Contrary to popular perception, Indian roads witnessed more accidents on bright sunny days as compared to rainy or foggy days, in 2017, according to government data. A massive 3.4 lakh road crashes of the total 4.7 lakh accidents last year occurred on sunny clear days, as per the report on accidents in 2017 by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Accidents under adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain, fog and hail/sleet accounted for only 16 per cent of total road accidents last year. "Adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain, thick fog and hail storms make driving riskier as visibility reduces and road surface gets slippery. The data of road accidents for 2017, however, shows that almost 3/4th of the accidents took place under sunny/clear weather," the report said. Of the 4.70 lakh road accidents last year, 1.47 lakh people lost their lives, it said. The data showed that bright clear days witnessed 73.3 per cent (3.40 lakh) of India's total road crashes in 2017 in ...
World Bank offers disaster-hit Indonesia $1 bn in loans
The World Bank on Sunday announced funding of up to USD1 billion for Indonesia after it was rocked by a string of recent disasters, including a deadly earthquake-tsunami that killed thousands. CEO Kristalina Georgieva unveiled the funds at Indonesian holiday island Bali, where the Bank and the International Monetary Fund have been holding their annual meetings. A 7.5-magnitude quake and a resulting tsunami tore through Palu city on Sulawesi island on September 28, killing more than 2,000 people and leaving thousands more missing, presumed dead. Rescue teams scoured the wreckage for a fortnight before calling off the search for the dead, acknowledging as many as 5,000 missing people might never be found. Georgieva said the funds being made available by the Bank in the form of loans could be used for reconstruction but were also intended to help Indonesia build "resilience", so it would be better prepared in the face of future disasters. "Disasters will continue to hit and with climate .
Major fire guts footwear factory in Narela industrial area: police
A major fire gutted a footwear factory in the Narela Industrial area here on Sunday, police said. No casualty has been reported in the incident. The blaze was reported in the basement, ground and first floor of a three floor building and 22 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, police said. The fire was reported at 7.14 am and was doused by 10.50 am, police added.
Coal Ministry to take back Sitanala mine in J'khand from SAIL
The government has decided to take back Sitanala coking coal block in Jharkhand from the country's largest steel producer SAIL on accounts of delays in the development of the mine. "A very little progress has been made in the development of the coal mines and the allottee has decided to surrender the same...As such there is no reason why the allotment agreement should not be terminated. "In view of the above, it has been decided to terminate the allotment agreement and allotment order in respect of Sitanala coal mine. However...the agreement and allotment order shall stand terminated w.e.f. October 25, 2018...," the coal ministry said in a letter to Steel Authority of India Ltd. The PSU had in March and again in April written to the coal ministry for surrendering the coal block. In the letter written on April 27, the Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) had said that the block was techno-commercially non-viable. "In this context, it is relevant to mention that SAIL is the prior ...