Page 566 - Disaster Accident
Odisha requests Kerala to provide assistance to Odia people
Odisha government today requested Kerala government to provide necessary support and assistance to Odia people who are trapped in the devastating floods in the rain-battered southern state. A list of 187 people of Odisha who have been trapped in the recent floods in Kerala has been sent along with the letter sent by the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in Revenue and Disaster Management Department, S K Das, an official said. The letter was sent to the Additional Chief Secretary in the Disaster Management Department of Kerala on the basis of information received by the state emergency operation centre at the Special Relief Commissioner's (SRC) office here, the official said. "It is requested to kindly make necessary arrangement for providing necessary support in terms of food, drinking water and other necessities to these people," the letter said. Earlier on August 17, Odisha government had requested Kerala to provide assistance to around 130 labourers from the state trapped
Met predicts heavy rains in 16 districts of Telangana
The active southwest monsoon over Telangana is likely to bring heavy rains at isolated places in several districts of the state today and tomorrow, the regional meteorological centre said. The weatherman has also forecast very likely occurrence of light to moderate rain or thundershowers at most places of the state during August 21 to 24. "Heavy to very heavy rain likely to occur at isolated places in 16 districts on August 19 and August 20," a weather bulletin said. Very heavy rain occurred at isolated places in the district of Mahabubabad while some places in the districts of Warangal Rural, Khammam and Kothagudem received heavy rain yesterday, it said.
Kerala floods: NDRF chief assures help, calls for calm
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director General Sanjay Kumar on Sunday said that the people stranded due to the floods in Kerala should keep their calm, and assured them that help will arrive from the rescue teams deployed in the state.Speaking to ANI, Kumar said, "They (stranded people) should keep their calm and seek shelter in the most stable or safe places around them. They should wait for the rescuers to come if no communication facility is there and in case they do have access to communications, they should contact the control rooms or the state or district emergency operation center and relay their needs and definitely, some rescuer will approach them."Kumar further said that there were 58 NDRF teams deployed across eight districts of the state to carry out rescue work and extend medical emergency aids. They are also assisting the state administration in several other situations like landslides, house collapses and restoring communication facilities, essential ...
Andhra IAS officers donate one-day salary to Kerala flood-hit victims
To provide aid to flood hit victims, the IAS Officers Association of Andhra Pradesh ( IASOA -AP) today announced that it will contribute one day salary of its members to the CM Relief Funds of Kerala. "As a token of our shared pain with the flood ravaged people of Kerala and as a mark of our heartfelt wish for their quick recovery, the IAS Officers Association of AP resolves to contribute one day salary of its members to the CM Relief Funds of Kerala," IASOA Secretary Shashi Bhushan Kumar said in a statement. The association stands as one with the people of Kerala and the countless members of civil and military administrations as well as civil society who are working tirelessly to provide rescue, relief and rehabilitation to the flood affected people, he said. The association hopes and wishes that people of Kerala, with their undying spirit, will overcome this tragedy swiftly, he added.
Persistent Systems to host 12-hr hackathon under IBM's Call for Code initiative
Indian IT firm Persistent Systems and IBM will host a 12-hour hackathon on August 24 as part of the US-based company's 'Call for Code' programme which aims to build global solutions for disaster management. Persistent, which is one of the partners for the programme, will conduct the hackathon at its offices in Pune, Nagpur and Goa. IBM India/South Asia Country Leader (Developer Ecosystem and Startups) Seema Kumar said there are 22 million developers globally who are building solutions based on new-age technologies like artificial intelligence, Blockchain and Internet of Things. "They are using AI, blockchain, IoT to build a lot of business relevant applications. The same talent can be used to solve some of the large global problems that are there...This year's theme for 'Call for Code' is around natural disasters, which is very relevant especially in India, we see floods and landslides. These cost human lives," she told PTI. Kumar explained that while there is data available to ...
846,680 people in relief camps: Kerala CM
A total of 846,680 people made homeless by devastating floods in Kerala are sheltering in 3,734 camps and the last stage of rescue operations is now on, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Sunday.
Pope urges help, prayers for Kerala
Pope Francis on Sunday called for solidarity and help from the international community for people affected by flooding in the southern Indian state of Kerala which has caused widespread death and destruction.
Mullaperiyar dam 'safe' to store water upto 142 ft: OPS
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam has said rumours were being spread over the stability of Mullaperiyar dam with an aim to create a wedge between the people of the state and Kerala, asserting that the reservoir was 'safe' to store water up to 142 feet. "Experts have opined that water could be stored upto 142 ft.. There is no need to fear.. The dam is strong.. the dam will not be affected even if there is a tremor or quake," Panneerselvam told reporters here last night, after visiting the Kumuli road, which got damaged due to a landslide "People of Kerala are our brothers and sisters.. Some people are trying to create misunderstanding between us," he said referring to the rumours doing rounds on social media platforms that the Mullaperiyar dam has developed some cracks. The Deputy Chief Minister's statement comes following a plea made by flood-hit Kerala on August 15, for reducing the water level in the Mullaperiyar reservoir to 139 feet over safety ...
BSB cancel show after fans get injured
Pop group Backstreet Boys cancelled their concert here after several fans got injured in a structure collapse.
Karnataka CM briefs President on rescue work
Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday briefed President Ram Nath Kovind on the rescue operations in flood-hit Kodagu districtwhere hundreds are marooned in villages and towns due to heavy rains.
Special trains to evacuate people stranded in Kerala
The South Eastern Railway will run two special trains from Ernakulam in flood-ravaged Kerala to Santragachi/Howrah to evacuate stranded people this evening, an SER spokesman said. On a request from the West Bengal government, SER will run the two trains, which will commence journey from Ernakulam at 6.00 pm and 9.00 pm today, a communique from the state Transport department said. The railway will also run a special train to Ernakulam from Santragachi, which will leave here at 5.15 pm on Wednesday, the SER spokesman said. Several tourists and many other people on work from West Bengal have been stranded owing to the floods in the southern state, where transport services have been severely affected.
14 injured after structure collapses at Backstreet Boys concert venue in Oklahoma
Popular band Backstreets Boys has cancelled their concert in Oklahoma after high wind and rain caused a structure at the venue to collapse, injuring 14 people. The concert was supposed to be held at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma but band member Kevin Richardson said it has been now cancelled. "Update... Unfortunately, due to damage sustained in the storm earlier this evening, we are unable to perform the show tonight. Safety is always #1. Keep your tickets because, Backstreet WILL BE BACK!" he tweeted. The host, WinStar World Casino and Resort, said in a statement that the team had advised the people to seek shelter from the storm at 5 p.m. after lightning was spotted. "However, about 150 patrons who were standing in line for the Backstreet Boys concert did not heed staff's warnings. At approximately 5.30 p.m., the storm hit and knocked over the concert entrance trusses with 70-80 mile an hour winds and heavy rain," the statement read. The host said that ...
Odisha requests Kerala to provide relief to flood-hit Odia people
The Odisha government on Sunday requested the Kerala government to provide necessary support to the Odia people trapped in the devastating floods.
Another Goa Minister to donate salary towards Kerala flood relief
Goa Water Resources Minister Vinod Palienkar on Sunday said that he will donate one-month salary to the relief fund in floods-battered Kerala.
Unsung heroes bring smiles to stranded in rain ravaged Kerala
Braving inclement weather and risky conditions, a young Air Force officer dramatically winched up a toddler to safety from the roof-top of a marooned house in rain-battered Kerala where thousands of people are battling all odds to survive as the death toll has touched 197 in the past 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8. Wing Commander Prashanth slid down a rope to the terrace of the two-storey house which seemed from above like a toy floating on the yellowish murky waters. TV visuals showed the officer airlifting the two-year-old boy with care, pressed him to his body and winched him to safety. The proud officer later handed over the baby to his anxious mother waiting inside the chopper. The woman, who was almost in tears, was all gratitude and smiles as she received her bundle of joy in her hands. Prashanth is one among many unsung heroes who have brought smiles to the faces of anxious and panic-stricken people of Kerala, reeling under the worst floods of a ...
K'taka floods: Kumaraswamy conducts second aerial survey in Kodagu district
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday conducted an aerial survey of landslides and flood-affected areas in Karnataka's Kodagu district for the second day.The Chief Minister also presented cheques to the families of Avarthi village who lost their houses in floods. He also inspected rain-affected areas in Somawarpet and adjacent areas. Kumaraswamy on Saturday announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh per family who turned homeless after the recent floods.While addressing the media, Kumaraswamy said that the situation was under control and the Army has reached the flood-affected area for the rescue operation.Since August 14, incessant rains have lashed Karnataka, resulting in landslides and flooding in many parts of the state. Following the same, a high alert was issued on August 15 in five districts namely Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga.
Joint team of aviation bodies, CISF inspect Kochi naval base for commercial flight ops
The Centre today said a joint team of different aviation-related bodies and CISF inspected the Cochin Naval Base, a day after announcing operation of commercial flights from the base from Monday to aid rescue efforts in Kerala. Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu also said the watch hour at Vijayawada and Begumpet airports has been extended to facilitate relief operations by IAF aircraft. Watch hour refers the period during which the airport remains open for operation. "A Joint team comprising representatives from DGCA, BCAS, CISF, AAI and Indian Navy carried out inspection of #Cochin Naval Base today to check the feasibility of scheduled operations from there. Steps being taken to start operations with ATR-72 from Monday, 20th August," the minister tweeted. The base will be used by carriers such as Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, to operate 70-seater ATR aircraft to places such as Bengaluru. The Minister had said yesterday that flights from the naval base to other ...
J&K govt gives Kerala Rs 2 cr for flood relief
The Jammu and Kashmir government today announced an assistance of Rs two crore for supporting the flood relief efforts in Kerala. J&K Governor N N Vohra has conveyed to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan the "sorrow and sincere sympathy" of the people and the government of the state over the "tragic" loss of hundreds of lives and the enormous damage of the public and private properties in the worst flood crisis that Kerala is facing in the past several decades, a Raj Bhavan spokesman said. He said the governor also conveyed to the chief minister the J&K government's decision to provide Rs two crore help for supporting the flood relief efforts under way in Kerala. Vohra and the members of his state administrative council have condoled the tragic death of people who lost their lives in the flood fury and conveyed their sympathy for the lakhs of families who have been rendered homeless in Kerala, the spokesman said. He said the governor has also announced that suitable ...
Kerala floods: One more Goa minister donates a month's salary
Goa Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar said today that he would donate a month's salary towards the relief work in flood-hit Kerala. The southern state is facing its worst floods in 100 years with all rivers in spate. The death toll there has touched 197 in the past 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8. Palyekar in a tweet said, "Deeply disturbed by the sufferings of our brothers and sisters in Kerala and as a small contribution towards resettling the lives back and aid in relief work, I have decided to donate my one month salary for Kerala relief work." Earlier, Goa Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said yesterday that he would donate a month's salary to the relief fund set up to help the flood-affected people in Kerala. Ajgaonkar had also requested his colleagues to join in the effort to help the flood-ravaged state.
Ship with relief items for Kerala flood victims leaves from Mumbai
An Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship, carrying 65 tonnes of relief material for flood victims in Kerala, left here this morning, an official said. The consignment on board the ship, 'Sankalp', includes items donated by people to various NGOs and the Maharashtra government, a spokesperson of the ICG western region said. It is expected to reach the Kochi port by tomorrow, he said. Another ship with 50 tonnes of relief material was also scheduled to leave from the New Mangaluru port for Kochi today, he said. Around seven tonne of food items have already been sent from New Mangaluru to Kozhikode and Kochi and about five tonne material has been transported in the ICG aircraft through Visakhapatnam and Chennai, the spokesperson said. "We have to address some distress calls on short notice as well. This morning, the Aluva disaster control room sought medicines and ready-to-eat food items for 2,000 people on an urgent basis. We sent two Chetak aircraft carrying 500 kg material to be ...