Page 574 - Disaster Accident
Rahul urges Cong workers to reach out to affected people in Kerala
Congress president Rahul Gandhi today urged party cadre in flood-hit Kerala to mobilise resources for helping the people of the state, while displaying the core Congress values of service and love. "Across Kerala & now Kodagu in Karnataka, heavy rainfall has caused widespread devastation. This is the time for our workers & leaders to demonstrate the core Congress values of service & love. Please focus all our resources & people to help those in need (sic)," he tweeted. Kerala has been severely hit by monsoon rains and rivers and dam reservoirs are overflowing, inundating a large part of the southern state. The deadliest deluge in close to a century has claimed 173 lives since August 8, and dealt a severe blow to the scenic state, wrecking its tourism industry, destroying standing crops in thousands of hectares and inflicting huge damage to infrastructure.
Airlines asked to mount additional flights to Kerala, cap maximum air fares
The civil aviation regulator DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) has asked domestic airlines to mount additional flights to and from Kerala with a cap on the maximum fare.
Odisha urges Kerala to assist 130 stranded labourers
The Odisha government today requested Kerala to provide assistance including food and drinking water to 130 people from the eastern Indian state stranded at Odapally in Kerala, official sources said. The Odisha government's action came soon after it received an alert from one Anil Sethi, a labourer, who informed around 130 people from Odisha who have taken shelter in a house at Aluva Munnar Road, Odapally, near Asha Munnar Post Office. Sethi said they were not able to get food and drinking water. "I would, therefore, request you to kindly make necessary arrangement for providing support in terms of food, drinking water and other necessities to the flood affected people from Odisha." the state's Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi wrote in a letter to P H Kurian, Additional Chief Secretary, Disaster Management, Kerala. The Odisha government also set up a helpline in the special relief commissioner's office here to help the people in distress. Any person from ...
Rahul asks Congress workers to help the needy in Kerala
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday expressed concern over the flood situation in Kerala and urged party workers to demonstrate the core party values of service and help those in need.
1 killed, 21 injured as mini-bus falls into deep gorge in J-K
One person was killed and 21 others were injured when a mini-bus skidded off the road and rolled down into a 200-feet deep gorge in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir today, a police official said. The accident took place at Jhajhar area of the district around 6 pm, he said. The deceased was identified as Jai Karan (40), he said, adding that the injured persons were rushed to a nearby hospital.
Minister vows to build houses for the flood-hit
Tamil Nadu Education Minister K A Sengottaiyan visited the flood-hit Sathyamangalam area in Erode today and promised to build 200 houses for the affected people. Meanwhile, Theni Collector Pallavi Baldev asked people living along Vaigai river to move to safe places, as the Vaigai Dam-level touched 66.01 feet (maximum 71 feet) with a heavy inflow of 4,227 cusecs. Though water discharged from the dam was only 60 cusecs, it was normal to issue a flood-warning when the level reaches 66 feet, officials said.
Flood death toll 174, red alert in 12 Kerala districts (Third Lead)
The death toll in rain-battered Kerala touched 174 on Friday as a red alert continued in 12 districts, with various agencies continuing the rescue operations after rains subsided to evacuate over 80,000 persons during the day.
PM leaves for Kerala to take stock of flood situation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Kerala this evening to take stock of the flood situation there. Earlier in the day, Modi also spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed about the situation. "Leaving for Kerala to take stock of the flood situation in the state," the prime minister tweeted. "The suffering of the people of Kerala has been in his thoughts for the last few days. He will review the status of relief and rescue operations, and will also undertake an aerial survey of the flood affected areas," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. Modi left for Kerala after attending the last rites of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He walked behind the gun carriage carrying the mortal remains of the former prime minister from the BJP headquarters to Smriti Sthal. Kerala has been severely hit by monsoon rains and rivers and dam reservoirs are overflowing, inundating a large part of the state. At least 100 people died yesterday in rain-related ..
Five dead in auto rickshaw-truck collision in Kheda
Five persons were killed when a speeding truck rammed into an auto rickshaw on Mahudha-Kathlal road in Kheda district of Gujarat this morning, police said. The truck driver fled from the spot abandoning the vehicle, said officials of Mahudha police station. Four passengers in the rickshaw and its driver were killed in the accident. The passengers were from a village near Mahudha town of Kheda district. The truck, coming from the opposite direction, rammed into the rickshaw while overtaking another vehicle, police said. The deceased were identified as Farukh Chauhan (rickshaw driver), Nazir Chauhan, Irshad Chauhan, Salim Bhathiyara and Yasin Bhathiyara.
Old Coleroon Bridge to be demolished: Minister
The Old Coleroon Bridge here would be demolished as it has developed cracks owing to heavy discharge of water into the Cauvery, Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister Vellamandi N Natarajan said today. He was speaking to reporters after inspecting the flood-like situation. The pier of the bridge has developed cracks and posed a danger to motorists, so it would be razed down once the waters recede, the Minister said. The new bridge adjacent to the old one would be used as a two-way. The old bridge was built in the 1920s.
Fury clouds funeral plans for Italy bridge victims
Grieving relatives wept over coffins of dozens of victims of Genoa's bridge collapse today as controversy clouded a planned state funeral, while rescuers pressed on with their formidable search for those missing in the rubble. Fury is growing over the shock collapse of the Morandi bridge, a decades-old viaduct that crumbled in a storm on Tuesday killing at least 38 people, with Italian media reporting that some outraged families would shun tomorrow's official commemorations. Italy's government has blamed the operator of the viaduct for the tragedy and threatened to strip the firm of its contracts, while the country's creaking infrastructure has come under scrutiny. Authorities are planning a state funeral service and mass for the dead tomorrow at a hall in Genoa, coinciding with a day of mourning. Relatives who gathered at the hall today embraced and prayed over lines of coffins, many adorned with flowers and photographs of the dead. But according to La Stampa newspaper, the families .
Stranded pregnant woman in Kerala airlifted, gives birth
A pregnant woman stranded in one of the worst flood-hit areas of Kerala had developed complications with a ruptured amniotic sac. The two lives remained in danger till help came out of the blue - literally.
Odisha urges Kerala to provide help to 130 stranded Odias
The Odisha government on Friday urged the Kerala government to provide minimum assistance like food and water to the people from the state taking shelter at a flood-ravaged place.
Delhi government to donate Rs 10 cr to flood-battered Kerala
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced his government will be donating Rs 10 crore to flood-ravaged Kerala.
Railways rushes drinking water to Kerala
The Indian Railways has extended a helping hand to Kerala by supplying bottled water to flood-affected people.Around 2740 cartons were dispatched from Parassala's Rail Neer plant earlier today, while six trucks loaded with drinking water have already been pressed into service.In a similar move, the Southern Railways has dispatched seven BRN Wagons, carrying 2.8 lakh litres of water, from the Erode Junction on Friday afternoon.Apart from this, the Railway has made necessary arrangements in case of emergency situations in the state. A loading of 10,000 cubic boxes of water bottles is under progress to be sent in the state.The officials of Kerala State Government directed the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager in Palakkad to coordinate further dispatch of drinking water for those affected.Kerala has been witnessing acute flood situation since past few days owing to incessant rain. So far, 324 people have lost their lives in the state due to flood, according to a tweet by the Chief ...
Navy rescues 500 in flood-hit Kerala
The Indian Navy rescued nearly 500 people on Friday, continuing with its massive rescue and relief operations in flood-ravaged Kerala where monsoon rains have left a trail of death and destruction across the state.
Rescued over 3,600 persons in flood-hit Kerala: Defence Ministry
Engaged in rescue and relief operations in flood-hit Kerala, the Indian Army has been able to rescue 3,627 persons till date, including 22 foreign nationals, the Ministry of Defence said on Friday.
WCD ministry sending 100 MT of food packets to Kerala: Maneka
The Women and Child Development Ministry is coordinating with the Air Force and Kerala government to deliver 100 metric tonnes of ready-to-eat food packets to the flood-affected children in the state, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi said today. The floods, Kerala's deadliest in close to a century, have claimed 173 lives since August 8. According to sources, 106 people were killed in just one day yesterday. "To aid distressed children stuck in this massive calamity, I have arranged 100 MT of ready-to-eat food. Have also assured the state government for more supplies," Gandhi said in a tweet. "Deeply anguished by the critical condition of Kerala. I have asked my team to extend full support to the Government of Kerala in rescue and relief operations," she said. She added that her ministry is in touch with the Air Force to get the food packets delivered as soon as possible. The deluge has dealt a body blow to the scenic state of Kerala, wrecking its tourism industry, destroying standing ...
SR despatches trains carrying drinking water to Kerala
Southern Railway today despatched three special trains carrying water to rain-ravaged Kerala where drinking water supply has been hit in some parts after functioning of pumping stations was disrupted in heavy rains. Over one lakh water bottles would also be sent through other trains bound for the state, a railways release said. A special train with seven-open wagons (BRN) containing tanks full of drinking water started from Erode Junction at 4pm today,it said. The train, bound for Thiruvanathapuram, will run through Dindigul, Madurai and Tirunelveli. Similarly, a seven-wagon train carrying 2.8 lakh litres of water and a 15-wagon special also commenced its journey to the neighbouring state, it said. Kerala Water Authority officials have said high turbidity in the Periyar river had hit pumping and distribution of drinking water supply at several places including Aluva, Eloor and Kalamassery. The rain fury has claimed 173 lives since August 8, and dealt a body blow to the ...
Godavari river in spate in AP/Telangana
The Godavari river is in spate in Andhra Pradesh and Telengana with the government machinery put on alert in three districts today following first flood warning, officials said. As the river carried over 12 lakh cusecs of water in the wake of heavy rains in catchment areas, emergency rescue and relief teams, including that of national and state disaster response forces, have been positioned in East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh to meet any eventuality. Two villages have been marooned in East Godavari district leading to evacuation of around 100 families as the first flood warning was issued in the state and in Badrachalam in Telangana. Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister (Home) N China Rajappa appealed to people living along the river's banks in East and West Godavari districts to be on alert and move to safety when required, said. The water flow at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowaleswaram in East Godavari District was over 12.1 lakh cusecs, prompting .