Page 587 - Disaster Accident
Flooding in Sudan kills 23 people, injures 61
Sudanese medics say at least 23 people have been killed in heavy flooding in the past three weeks. The Red Crescent Society said today that the floods have injured at least 61 others since July 23 and left more than 8,900 families homeless. The rainfall has affected over 45,000 people and caused significant damage to key infrastructure, it added. More heavy rainfall is expected in other parts of Sudan, the society said further. Monsoon rains in Sudan regularly last from June to November and cause the Nile and its tributaries to overflow.
Three climbers, two crew die in Tajikistan helicopter crash
Three Russian climbers and two Tajik crew members have died in a helicopter "hard landing" in Tajikistan's remote mountainous region, emergency services said today. Twelve other climbers and a third crew member survived the accident, which took place yesterday at 1130 GMT, and were evacuated from the site for medical treatment, authorities said. Of the 12 surviving climbers, all are Russian except for a Belarusian and a Spanish national. The site where the Mi-8 chopper crashed is some 480 kilometres (300 miles) east of the capital Dushanbe in the Pamir range, a key tourist destination. Emergency services said the climbers had been climbing the Ismoili Somoni mountain, which was once known as Peak Communism and used to be the highest in the Soviet Union. The accident comes two weeks after four Western cyclist tourists were killed in an attack initially reported as a hit-and-run road accident, striking a blow to Tajikistan's emerging tourism sector. The attack that saw the tourists ...
Woes rain in Kerala; 39 dead, economy wrecked
Rains pounded several parts of Kerala today, triggering landslips and compounding the woes of people already reeling under unprecedented floods and downpour which have claimed 39 lives so far, officials said. Landslides were reported from various places in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Idukki and Wayanad districts, as nearly one lakh people rendered homeless due to the deluge took refuge in hundreds of relief camps. In the picturesque Wayanad district alone, over 14,000 people have taken shelter in 124 relief camps, the state's disaster control room said. Some respite appeared on the the horizon for the Idduki hill district, ravaged by floods, with the water in the Idukki dam receding to 2,397.58 ft, alleviating concerns about floods in fresh downstream areas, particularly in Ernakulam district. The current level does not warrant issuing any warning, they said. The weatherman has issued a fresh warning asking fishermen not to venture into the sea, saying the coasts of Kerala .
Regulatory vacuum in dealing with GM food, says FSSAI chief
Calling Genetically Modified (GM) food a "contentious issue", FSSAI Chief Executive Pawan Kumar Agarwal on Monday said there is a regulatory vacuum in dealing with the transgenic food.
Nine killed in UP in rain-related incidents
Nine people were killed and six injured in rain-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh since last night as thundershowers lashed several parts of the state, officials said here today. "Nine persons were killed and six others injured in rain releated incidents. Three persons died in Basti, two each in Sitapur and Kannauj while one died each in Sonebhadra and Bijnore," Relief Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said. These deaths were reported since last night till 5 pm today, he said. According to a MeT department report, Nighasan received 13 cm rainfall since yesterday followed by Nagina 12 cm, Birdghat 11 cm, Shardanagar 10 cm, Rae Bareli and Puranpur 9 cm each, Pilibhit 7 cm and Rampur 5 cm. The Ghaghra river at Elgin Bridge in Barabanki, Ayodhya, and Turtiparin Ballia was flowing above the red mark, while the Sharda river flowed above the danger mark at Palia Kalan, a Central Water Commission report said. Ganga at Narora, Fatehgarh, Gumtia, Ankin Ghat and Kanpur, and the Yamuna at Prayag Ghat in
16 killed in Himachal rains, hundreds stranded
Heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh claimed 16 lives, including four of a family, while hundreds of people were stranded across the state after incessant rains triggered landslides, snapping road links, officials said on Monday.
MeT office warns of heavy rainfall in U'khand in next 24 hours
The weather department issued today a warning of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places in at least eight districts in Uttrakhand in the next 24 hours, following which authorities were asked to stay alert to deal with any untoward situation. The local MeT office has predicted heavy to very heavy rain in parts of Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Chamoli, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Champawat and Pithoragarh districts in the next 24 hours. It has forecast torrential rain at isolated places in the state capital Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri, Pauri, and Udham Singh Nagar during the period. In view of the rain forecast, the weather department has asked tourists visiting the hilly areas and people living in the low-lying areas to remain alert. The State Emergency Operations Centre has issued instructions to the district magistrates to maintain vigil as there is possibility of cloudbursts and lightning affecting normal public life during heavy rain. It has advised the officials concerned to remain .
Some 2,000 evacuated for removal of 3 WWII bombs in Poland
More than 2,000 people were evacuated today while Polish navy experts removed three World War II bombs from the Baltic Sea bed at the vacation resort of Kolobrzeg, officials said. The spokesman for the local navy unit, Jacek Kwiatkowski, said the bombs were hoisted out of the sea and onto a special truck and were taken to a test range for controlled detonation. Each bomb weighed some 300 kilograms (660 pounds) and their impact radius was estimated at some 2 kilometers (1.2 miles). Two other metal objects found at the site turned out to be parts of an old anchor and some scrap metal. Dariusz Trzeciak, a Kolobrzeg city official, said some 2,000 residents and 200 vacationers were evacuated in their own cars or in buses. They were later allowed to return. Kolobrzeg was part of Germany during the war and was the site of fierce fighting in the conflict's last phase.
Glider plane crashes in French Alps, killing man and teen
The French Alps' high mountain police force says a small glider plane has crashed despite "excellent" weather, killing two Austrians onboard. An official at the Hautes-Alpes gendarmes, who refused to give their name as an inquiry is ongoing, told The Associated Press today the crash took place yesterday afternoon at an altitude of 2,400 metres (7,875 feet) on the mountainous Roche Rousse sector of Orcieres in the Hautes-Alpes region of southeastern France. He said the plane suddenly lost its trajectory and crashed, instantly killing the two Austrians the 57-year-old male pilot and a 13-year-old boy who may be his son. The official said the circumstances of the tragedy and the identity of the victims are still unknown. Authorities were alerted to the crash by witnesses who saw the glider fall.
Rains trigger landslides in north Kerala, no damage reported
Landslides caused by rains in northern districts of Kerala like Malappuram and Kozhikode on Monday gave some anxious moments, but there was no loss of life or property since these occurred in uninhabited areas.
Eighteen dead as heavy showers pound Himachal Pradesh
At least 18 people were killed in different areas of Himachal Pradesh as the state experienced incessant rains since yesterday evening, an official said. According to the information received at the state headquarters, eight persons were killed in Solan district followed by four in Mandi, two each in Hamirpur and Kangra districts and one each in Bilaspur and Una, he said. Interim relief was distributed by the local district administration to the affected families, he added.
Monsoon rains, floods claim 776 lives in 7 states; highest 187 dead in Kerala
Altogether 776 people have lost their lives, 187 of them in Kerala, in incidents related to rains, floods and landslides in seven states during the monsoon season so far, the Home Ministry said today. According to the Home Ministry's National Emergency Response Centre (NERC), 187 people lost their lives in Kerala, where 2,406 villages in 14 districts were badly hit by the rains and floods and over 26,400 hectres of crops were damaged. As many as 171 died in Uttar Pradesh, 170 people in West Bengal, 139 in Maharashtra, 52 people lost their lives in Gujarat, 45 in Assam and 10 in Nagaland. A total of 27 people were also missing in Kerala (22) and West Bengal (5), while 245 others received injuries in rain-related incidents in the states. The deluge and rains have hit 26 districts in Maharashtra, 23 in Assam, 22 in West Bengal, 14 in Kerala, 12 in Uttar Pradesh, 11 Nagaland and 10 in Gujarat. Nearly two lakh people have been living in relief camps in Kerala while 14 teams of National ...
Wild elephant caught in floods rescued after shutting dam
A wild elephant which got stranded on a rock in a river in spate, was rescued today after sluice gates of a dam were closed briefly to allow water to recede in flood-hit Kerala's Thrissur district. Locals, who spotted the jumbo standing on the rock in the Chalakudy River near here, alerted forest and police officials, following which it was decided to down the shutters of the Peringalkuthu dam upstream to enable the pachyderm move to safety, forest officials said. The animal was rescued after three sluice gates of the dam were shut for some time and the water level in the river came down, they said. Almost all 40-odd rivers in Kerala are in spate as a fallout of unprecedented rains lashing the state. Meanwhile, the famed Atihirapally waterfalls here was opened for public with restricted access after remaining out of bounds in the past several days in view of heavy flow of water. People were allowed only up to a particular point in view of safety concerns, officials said. A security ...
100 cr central aid inadequate, says Kerala FM; Alphons terms remark 'political'
Union Minister K J Alphons today termed Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac's comment that the Centre's relief of Rs 100 crore for the flood-hit state was inadequate, a "political" one and alleged that he did not visit the worst-affected areas. This comes a day after Home Minister Rajnath Singh sanctioned a grant of Rs 100 crore to flood-ravaged Kerala where 39 people have lost their lives in unprecedented rainfall, with the state pegging its damages at Rs 8,316 crore. The Kerala government had sought an assistance of Rs 1,220 crore from the Centre to tide over the crisis. Today, Isaac took to Twitter to say the "precious" Rs 100 crore was "from the regular disaster management fund due to Kerala". During a media interaction at the Indian Women's Press Club in the national capital, Union Tourism Minister Alphons said "Thomas Isaac is complaining all the time. This is a completely political statement. During the UPA rule, the ministers from Kerala never visited the state in the event ..
We can't take over legislative functions, says SC
The Supreme Court today said it cannot "take over legislative functions" as it refused to go into the issues relating to the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill on the ground that it was pending for consideration before the Rajya Sabha. A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur, S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta was told that Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2017 has not been passed by Rajya Sabha at the recently concluded monsoon session of Parliament. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on April 10 last year. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Pinky Anand, appearing for the Centre, said the bill was likely to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha during the Winter Session, whichi generally begins late November. Advocate Gaurav Agarwal, assisting the court as an amicus curiae in the road safety matter, said the bill revises the amount of compensation to Rs two lakh in case of death and Rs 50,000 for grievous injury in road accidents. As per the existing scheme, Rs 25,000 is paid to a victim of ...
Mobile testing labs to ensure safe water in rural Arunachal
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu today inaugurated two mobile testing laboratories aimed at ensuring safe and potable water supply in rural areas. The labs, capable of onsite testing of different water quality parameters, are funded by the state's Public Health Engineering Department. The testing units will also spread awareness about clean drinking water. Khandu said the labs are significant, as people in the rural areas are not much aware about the benefits of potable drinking water.
Odisha alerts collectors amid forecast of heavy rainfall
The Odisha government today asked all district collectors to remain alert to a possible flood situation amid a forecast of heavy rainfall across the state in the next 72 hours. Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi, in separate letters to the collectors, said a low pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal is likely to trigger rainfall in almost all districts of the state on August 13, 14 and 15. "All collectors are requested to remain alert and keep the administrative machinery prepared to face any eventuality. The district emergency operation centres (EOCs) have been asked to operate round the clock," Sethi said in the letter. The IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in the southern and western parts of Odisha today, coastal areas and northern parts of the state on August 14 and western areas on August 15. All fishermen in the state have been warned against venturing into the sea along and off the Odisha coasts during the next 72 hours, Sethi
Six climbers, crew rescued in Tajikistan chopper accident
Six climbers and a crew member were rescued from the site of a helicopter accident in a remote mountainous region of Tajikistan while nine others remain missing after a "hard landing", emergency services said. The Tajik Committee for Emergency Situations told AFP that a rescue helicopter reached the site in the east of the country and brought back the first group of six mountaineers and a crew member of the Mi-8 accident. "Some of the climbers suffered injuries. They are receiving help," the committee said. It added that two other rescue helicopters were on their way to the site, around 300 kilometres east of the capital Dushanbe. Earlier authorities said 16 people were feared dead in the accident that took place yesterday at 1130 GMT, the committee said and two helicopters were sent on a rescue and recovery mission to the crash site. The emergency committee said the group had been climbing the Ismoili Somoni mountain that was once known as Peak Communism and was the highest in the ...
Rain fury severely affects Kerala's tourism, plantation sectors
Floods due to the unprecedented monsoon fury in Kerala has wrecked the tourism industry and seriously impacted the plantation sector, which are among the major revenue sources for the state. Just as the tourism industry was recovering from the cancellation of bookings at hotels and resorts following the Nipah outbreak, heavy rains and floods came as a huge blow, say industry sources. The plantation sector is estimated to have suffered huge losses due to the landslides and flooding that have claimed 39 lives and rendered over one lakh homeless in the latest phase of monsoon rains since early this month. The picturesque high-range districts of Idukki and Waynad, the most sought after destinations by tourists, are among the worst hit. Landslips are continuing in various places and many pockets of the two districts are still flooded and road network also affected. According to Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) Senior Vice-President E M Najeeb, already 70 to 80 per cent ...
8 miners killed, six trapped in coal mine explosion in Pakistan
A methane gas explosion in a coal mine in Pakistan's Balochistan province has killed eight miners while six others were still trapped, officials said today. At least 13 miners were trapped thousands of feet under the ground when the mine, situated in Sanjadi area, about 50 kilometres east of the provincial capital Quetta, collapsed following an explosion last evening. Bodies of eight miners were retrieved from the mine, they said. The Balochistan Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) had earlier said that bodies of six miners were recovered while efforts were on to rescue the trapped miners. According to Deputy Commissioner Quetta, Capt (retd) Tahir Zafar Abbasi, at least 13 miners were trapped after the underground methane gas explosion. "According to our estimates, at least 13 miners were trapped in a 4,000 feet deep pit inside the coal mine," Abbasi was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune. Senior officials, including Balochistan's Chief Inspector of Mines, have also ..