Page 579 - Disaster Accident
Straw management system must for paddy harvesting in Hry
The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has directed farmers to attach their combine harvesters to Super Straw Management System (SSMS) while harvesting paddy to check stubble burning in the state. No combine harvester will be allowed to harvest paddy without functional SSMS attached to it, a spokesperson of the HSPCB said here today. The SSMS cuts the straw into small pieces, thereby eliminating the need for farmers to burn the crop residue, which is an illegal practice, he said. The burning of paddy straw in open fields after harvesting is the main reason of air pollution in the state and adjoining Delhi-NCR. Such actions are causing irreparable damage to the soil and environment, the spokesperson pointed out. He said the Haryana environment department had issued the first notification prohibiting the indiscriminate burning of leftover paddy straw and wheat stubble on September 16, 2003.
Depression moves, intensity of rain declines in Odisha
The intensity of rainfall has declined across Odisha with the depression moving in a west-northwesterly direction, while the administrations have started repairing damaged roads and bridges in the affected districts. The IMD has forecast heavy rainfall in Malkangiri, Koraput, Baragarh, Nuapada and Nabarangpur districts today, but there is no such warning for tomorrow and the day after. "The depression over Odisha has moved west-northwest wards, and lay centered about 70 km east southeast of Titlagarh. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and weaken gradually into a well marked low pressure area during next 12 hours," the latest bulletin issued by the IMD said. Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi said the state had recorded an average rainfall of 29.7 mm in the since yesterday with Malkangiri district receiving the highest average rainfall of 165.3 mm. Five other districts - Nuapada, Kalahandi, Koraput, Balangir and Nawarangpur - have received an average .
Kerala deluge 'a tragedy without parallel': Rahul calls PM urges for extra assistance
At a time when Kerala is reeling under the worst bout of monsoon rain in a Century, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and requested him to massively increase the deployment of the Army and Navy in the state.Referring to the situation in the flood-ravaged state as 'a tragedy without parallel', the Congress president tweeted, "Kerala is in great pain. I spoke to the Prime Minister and requested him to massively increase deployment of the Army and Navy. I also said that it is critical that he gives the state special financial assistance as this is a tragedy without parallel in Kerala's history."Gandhi also urged people to help by contributing to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's relief fund. He had tagged the link for the same to his tweet."I am deeply concerned for the people of #Kerala tonight, as the flood waters rise. Thousands are stranded. Relief camps full. Many have lost their loved ones. It's time to step up & help. Please ...
SC directs reducing water level at Mullaperiyar dam by three feet
The Supreme Court today directed the Disaster Management sub-committee of Mullaperiyar Dam to consider reducing water level up to 139 feet from the present 142 feet, considering the "grave" flood situation in all the 14 districts of Kerala. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Indu Malhotra took a serious note of the grim flood situation in Kerala and asked the sub-committee to hold an urgent meeting tomorrow morning with the Centre's National Crisis Management Committee (NCMS) and the Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu and Kerala through a video-conference if physical presence of officials cannot be ensured. "An effort has to be made to bring down the water level of the Mullaperiyar dam to 139 ft so that the people living downstream should not live in constant fear," the bench said. However, Tamil Nadu government opposed the plea with regard to bringing down the water level in the dam, saying that the inflow of water presently is over 12,000 cusec in contrast to the outflow .
Kerala floods: Modi wants rescue, relief operations stepped up
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan about the situation in flood-battered Kerala and asked the defence forces to speed up rescue and relief operations after fresh rain and flooding left a trail of death and destruction in the southern state.
NCMC meets; decides to scale up relief, rescue ops in Kerala
The country's apex body to handle emergency situation today decided to scale up relief and rescue operations in flood-hit Kerala by involving the three defence services and other agencies, besides providing essential commodities to marooned people in 14 worst-affected districts. Chaired by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha and attended by chiefs of the three services, secretaries of home, defence and others, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) took stock of the prevailing situation in Kerala and directed all concerned to ensure continued assistance to the state government to meet the crisis, a home ministry spokesperson said. The meeting was held following a directive of the prime minister. The central government has been providing full support to Kerala and has launched massive relief and rescue operations in the state, the spokesperson said. In the meeting, the cabinet secretary pressed into service all the forces - Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, National Disaster ...
Normalcy hit as rains lash parts of Telangana; CM reviews
Normal life was thrown out of gear as heavy rains occurred at some places in Telangana today while Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao instructed the officials to be on alert in the wake of the showers. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), in its report this morning, said most places in the state received moderate rainfall. Very heavy rain pounded the districts of Jayashankar Bhupalpally and Kumram Bheem, while heavy rains occurred at some places in Adilabad and Mancherial districts. Perur in J Bhupalpally district received 19 cm of rainfall, Sirpur (17 cm) and Asifabad (13 cm), the report said. Several rivulets and other water bodies were in spate in Adilabad, affecting the road network in some of the places, official sources said. The Indian Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rain at some places and moderate rainfall elsewhere for today. The Chief Minister, who reviewed the situation, spoke to Chief Secretary SK Joshi and DGP Mahender Reddy, an official
Rescue teams continue search for Italy bridge collapse survivors
Rescue teams were continuing on Thursday their search for possible survivors among the rubble of a bridge that collapsed in Genoa in northwestern Italy, killing at least 39 and injuring 16.
Rahul seeks increase in Army, Navy deployment in flood-hit Kerala
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Kerala floods and requested for a "massive increase" in the number of armed personnel deployed there to assist in rescue and relief as the death toll reached 87.
Odisha announces Rs 5-cr assistance for flood-hit Kerala
Odisha government today announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 crore for flood-ravaged Kerala, where the death toll in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8 has risen to 75. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik talked to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan over telephone, following which the financial aid was announced, the CMO said. Patnaik also offered any other kind of support required to tackle the calamity, as Odisha has expertise in dealing with disasters like flood and cyclone, it said. The situation in the state was "extremely grave", said Vijayan, who spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh this morning, seeking more Central assistance for relief operations. Heavy rains continue to batter most parts of Kerala, especially Pathanamthitta, Ernakukam and Alappuzha districts, where several people, including children and elderly, are trapped in their houses.
Italy collapse points to difficulties with aging bridges
The bridge that collapsed in the Italian port city of Genoa was considered a feat of engineering innovation when it was built five decades ago, but it came to require constant maintenance over the years. Its design is now being investigated as a possible contributor to its stunning collapse. The Morandi Bridge was severed in its midsection during a heavy downpour Tuesday, killing at least 39 people. Italian prosecutors focused their investigation into possible design flaws or inadequate maintenance of the 1967 bridge. Engineering experts said the disaster points to the challenges of maintaining any aging bridge, regardless of its design. "What the general public does not comprehend is that bridges have been traditionally designed in the past for a life span of 50 years," said Neil Hawkins, a professor emeritus of engineering at the University of Illinois, who specializes in reinforced and prestressed concrete design. "The environment in which the bridge exists can have a major effect .
Kerala CM says water level to rise further, calls for immediate evacuation
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday informed that the situation prevailing in the state is very serious as nearly all villages are flood affected.The Chief Minister also informed that more helicopters will be deployed soon for the rescue operation in flood-hit Kerala."Very serious situation is prevailing in the state as nearly all villages are flood affected. I had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister, Home Minister and Defence Minister, they have offered all support. More helicopters to be deployed soon," Vijayan said.Vijayan further informed that the water level in the Periyar and Chalakudy rivers will rise and people living within a one kilometre-radius must rehabilitate immediately."Alert: the water-level in both Periyar and Chalakudy rivers will rise. People in one kilometre radius of Chalakudy, and those inside half kilometre radius of Aluva, must evacuate the place immediately," the Chief Minister tweeted.Kerala has been witnessing incessant rains since .
Discharge of surplus Cauvery water inundates villages, swamps crops in TN
Low-lying villages along the banks of the Cauvery river and its tributary the Bhavani in Tamil Nadu were inundated and crops submerged following heavy discharge of surplus water from Mettur dam, while people were shifted to safer locations. The dam has been releasing record amount of excess waters following discharge from dams in neighbouring Karnataka, affecting several villages, officials said. Following discharge of excess water from Bhavani Sagar reservoir (as the dam almost touched the full level of 105 feet), low-lying areas in Erode were affected. Villages of Hogenakkal -- the entry point of the Cauvery into Tamil Nadu -- like Chatiram in Dharmapuri district, Sangilimuniyappan Koil in Salem district were hit by inundation following heavy discharge of surplus water from Mettur dam, officials said. Transport services on the Mettur-Edappadi road in Salem were hit as the Cauvery is in spate. In view of heavy discharge from the Bhavani Sagar dam, areas in Erode district were ...
Investors turn on Italy bridge operator after disaster
GENOA, Italy (Reuters) - Italy's biggest toll-road operator came under heavy stock-market attack on Thursday after Rome criticised it for a deadly bridge collapse this week, moving to revoke its concession and accusing it of failing to ensure the viaduct's safety.
Kerala toll reaches 87, massive rescue operation underway
Even as the deadly deluge in Kerala continued to take a toll of life and property across the state -- with the number of deaths rising to 87 on Thursday -- the Centre has deployed all three wings of the armed forces in a massive rescue operation that is currently underway.
Landslide kills 8, rain fury continues in Kerala
A massive landslide killed eight people in Palakkad district of Kerala this morning even as there was no let-up in the torrential rains in the state where additional defence teams have been rushed to scale up rescue and relief operations. With this, the death toll in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8 has risine to 75. Panic-stricken people in marooned buildings and high-rise flats sought help using social media platforms and patients, including those in ICUs, from various hospitals were shifted to safer places as the flood situation worsened this morning. As many as 20 people stranded in a theology seminary were airlifted from Ranni in the worst-hit Pathanamthitta district and brought to Thiruvananthapuram by an Air Force helicopter. Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, told reporters here that eight people lost their lives today in a landslide at Nenmara in northern Palakkad. The situation in the state was "extremely grave", said Vijayan, who spoke to Prime ...
Odisha CM announces Rs 5 cr for Kerala flood victims
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday announced a Rs 5 crore assistance for the flood victims of Kerala.
CPI(M) appeals to people to contribute generously for flood-hit Kerala
The CPI(M) appealed to people of the country today to contribute generously to aid the rescue and relief operations in Kerala which has been hit by unprecedented floods. The death toll in the current phase of monsoon fury in the southern state has touched 72, while rains and flood water caused extensive damage in the state. "Given this unprecedented situation that the people of Kerala are confronted with, the politburo of CPI(M) fervently appeals to people of the entire country to contribute generously to aid the rescue and relief operations. "Given the urgency, party members, sympathisers and the general public are requested to rush their individual contributions either through drafts/cheques drawn in favour of the party or send it directly to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund," the CPI(M) said in a statement. It said flood water and heavy rains have affected all districts and 1,654 villages of the southern state. Though the state government is rendering all possible help to the ...
Kerala rains: 12 more NDRF teams sent
Twelve fresh teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been rushed by the Centre today to rain-battered Kerala. Six teams each are being airlifted from Delhi and Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and they will be dropped at Thiruvananthapuram today, a force spokesperson said. Only yesterday, 4 teams of the federal disaster contingency force were sent to Kerala and with their addition the total number of NDRG teams operating in the state had gone up to 18. The teams had been deployed in the flood affected areas of Idukki, Ernakulam,Palakkad, Alaphuza, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Thrissur and Pathanamthitta, the spokesperson said. A single NDRF team has about 45 personnel. So far, NDRF teams have rescued 7 people and evacuated 685 people in the state that has been severely hit by rains and floods, he added. Heavy rains in Kerala have so far claimed the lives of 72 people and the Kochi International Airport has been shut till Saturday. A red alert has been sounded in 12 of the 14 districts.
Massive relief, rescue ops in flood-hit Kerala; 3 defence forces deployed
The Centre today launched a massive relief and rescue operations in flood-hit Kerala, involving the three defence forces and other agencies, even as Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha chaired a high-level meeting following a directive from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Besides the Army, Navy and the Indian Air Force, the Coast Guard and the National Disaster Response Force have been asked to mobilise additional manpower, boats and helicopters to scale up the rescue and relief operations, a home ministry spokesperson said here. Food packets and drinking water are being rushed to Kerala for distribution among the people in 14 worst affected districts, while additional NDRF teams are also being sent to the state to assist the local administration in operations. The cabinet secretary chaired a high-level meeting to review the flood situation and rescue and relief operations in the southern state following a directive of the Prime Minister, the spokesperson said. The meeting was attended by Union