Page 590 - Disaster Accident
District administrations taking all flood safety measures: TN
With the Cauvery in spate following heavy discharge from Mettur dam, the Tamil Nadu government today said district administrations concerned were taking all safety measures in the wake of the alert issued by CWC. Talking to reporters here, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister R B Udayakumar said, "There is a ban on visiting places prone to flooding. People are advised not to indulge in activities such as taking selfies, fishing, swimming and other recreational activities." "District administrations concerned have been taking safety measures based on an alert issued by Central Water Commission (CWC) on August 9," he said. Evacuation of people from lowlying areas among other steps are being taken up by respective district officials, the minister said adding that revenue, disaster management and district officials are on high alert. Flood alert has been issued to Salem, Erode, Namakkal, Karur Tiruchi, Thanjavore, Pudukkottai, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Thiruvarur, Cuddalore .
774 dead in monsoon rains, floods in 7 states
As many as 774 people have died in incidents related to floods and rains 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 have lost their lives in Kerala, 171 in Uttar Pradesh, 170 people in West Bengal and 139 in Maharashtra due to the floods and rains. As many as 52 people lost their lives in Gujarat, 45 in Assam and eight 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. In Assam, 11.45 lakh people have borne the brunt of the rains and floods, which also hit crops in 27,552 hectres of land. Altogether 15 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are engaged in rescue and relief operations .
Rajnath announces additional Rs 100 crore relief for Kerala
After meeting flood victims in Kerala and taking an aerial overview of the situation in the state, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday announced additional Rs 100 crore flood relief for the state."I understand the suffering of the people of Kerala due to this unprecedented crisis. Since assessment of damages will take some time, I hereby announce immediate relief of additional Rs 100 crores," he said.Singh also approved the release of the second installment of Rs 80.25 crore in advance for the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to supplement the efforts of the state government.Earlier, after interacting with the flood victims, Rajnath assured the state government that all resources would be provided from the central government to tackle the situation.As per latest information, 33 people have been killed and six missing in rain-related incidents in the state.Over 1000 people, including elderly women and children, have been rescued in areas where the Indian Army's ten columns .
Engine taken out for repair derails in UP; no casualty
A railway engine taken for repair work derailed near Juhi Khalwa Bridge here today, disrupting rail traffic, officials said. No casualty was reported, they said. "Due to the engine derailment, the Jhansi side train movement got stopped for hours, but the movement on Delhi-Howrah route was not affected as it continued through third and fourth lines," Gaurav Krishna Bansal, NCR's Chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO), said. "Three trains got affected. There was no injury or casualty reported. An enquiry has been ordered," he said. The official said the incident took place when the engine was being sent to Lucknow at around 11.30 am for repairing its wheels. After getting the information about the incident, the maintenance team reached the spot and started the relief work. The team took about one and a half hour to put the engine back on track, Bansal said. The rail traffic resumed at around 2 pm, officials added.
Flood-hit Kerala seeks Rs 8,316 cr for relief, rehabilitation
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday submitted a memorandum to the visiting Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking Rs 8,316 crore as a special package for dealing with the situation arising from unprecedented floods following heavy monsoon rains.
Atleast 5 dead in rain-related incidents in UP in 24 hrs: officials
Atleast five persons died in rain-related incidents across Uttar Pradesh in the last 24 hours, officials said. "Three persons died in Basti today, while another died in Kannauj. One person had died in Muzaffarnagar (yesterday)," a statement issued by the Relief Commissioner's office here today said. Apart from this, one person sustained injuries in Kannauj. As many as 111 houses were also damaged. This figure includes 74 in Bhadohi (yesterday) and 25 in Farrukhabad (yesterday), the statement said. Meanwhile, light to moderate rains and thundershowers occurred at many places in the state, with heavy rainfall occurring at isolated places. Showers were witnessed in Nanpara, Bhatpurwaghat, Naraini, Badaun, Kaimganj, Fatehgarh, Ramnagar, Bareilly, Budhana, Najibabad, Sardanagar, Sidhauli, Bani, Sirauligauspur, and Sahaswan areas. According to the Meteorological (MeT) department, rain and thundershowers are very likely at many places over the state on August 14 and 15. Heavy to very heavy ..
DMK announces Rs 1 cr flood relief to Kerala govt
DMK Working President MK Stalin today announced Rs one crore flood relief to the Kerala government, on behalf of his party and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families. A DMK statement said, "Unprecedented floods in Kerala have affected many people and has caused damage to properties worth crores. The party's working president M K Stalin has decided to contribute Rs 1 crore to Kerala Chief Minister's Relief Fund." Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami had on August 9 announced a contribution of Rs 5 crore to rain ravaged Kerala as a mark of support to the neighbouring state. According to the latest official figures, more than 60,000 people, including women, toddlers and senior citizens, have been lodged in various relief camps across 14 districts of the southern state following the unprecedented monsoon rains that triggered floods and landslips in several places. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had yesterday announced Rs 10 lakh as compensation to ...
Passports damaged in Kerala floods to be replaced for free
External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Sunday announced that all the passports damaged due to the floods in Kerala will be replaced free of cost."There are unprecedented floods in Kerala causing huge damage. We've decided that as the situation becomes normal, passports damaged on account of floods shall be replaced free of charge. Please contact the concerned Passport Kendras," Swaraj tweeted.Earlier in the day, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, along with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister KJ Alphons undertook an aerial survey of the flood-affected regions in the state.Vijayan confirmed the death of 33 people in the flood, while six others are missing in rain-related incidents in the state.To help the state cope with the flood situation, Madras regiment from Pangode Military Station at Idukki has launched Operation Sahyog, which is coordinated by the Indian Army's Karnataka and Kerala sub-area, headquartered at Bangalore.Flash floods due to incessant rains
1,800 evacuated as France defuses British WWII bomb
Some 1,800 people were ordered to evacuate their homes in northwest France today as a bomb squad defused a British bomb from World War II, officials said. The 220-kilogramme bomb was found in late June during construction work near the centre of Rouen in Normandy. Residents living within a 270-metre radius of the site were told to leave the area early this morning ahead of the operation, which wound up shortly after 11:00 am (0900 GMT). Discoveries of bombs and shells from World War II are common in France and elsewhere on the continent. Last month, the French navy defused an unexploded shell found in the sea near a popular beach in Cannes on the Mediterranean coast. In May, nearly 9,000 people had to be evacuated after a bomb was uncovered in Dresden, Germany, a city which was heavily bombed toward the end of the war.
Defence men's selfless 'sahyog' help Kerala fight rain fury
Evacuating those stranded from gushing flood waters to removing huge granite blocks on roads--the defence personnel are showcasing war-front like services in the hamlets of rain-hit Kerala. As torrential rains had thrown normal life out of gear in many parts of Kerala last week, the personnel of the Army, Navy, Airforce and Coast Guard have sprung into action, extending all support to local people and authorities to face the deluge. Since then, the defence personnel are tirelessly working 24x7 in evacuating hapless people from isolated places, constructing temporary bridges, repairing and clearing roads in villages of Kerala, braving incessant rains and landslip threats. They are also unhesitatingly joining hands with local authorities in distributing food articles and organising medical camps in many places. Army personnel have helped bring tribals living in remote settlements to the rehabilitation camps in mainlands in high range Idukki and Wayanad districts, ...
Kerala situation very serious, says Rajnath Singh after aerial survey
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday described the situation in the flood-affected areas of Kerala as "very serious" and assured the state of all possible help from the Centre.
Dog saves life of master, family from landslip in Kerala
A pet dog turned out to be the saviour of its master and his family when the animal woke them up at 3 am, minutes before their house collapsed in a landslip at a hamlet in this high range district of Kerala. As 'Rocky' yelped and made disturbing sounds, Mohanan and his wife woke up and tried to find out what was wrong. They soon heard a thunderous noise and ran out of their house, only to find to their horror their dwelling unit collapsing at picturesque Keerithode on Thursday, Mohanan told a television channel. Idukki district is among the places badly hit in the monsoon rains which have triggered landslides and floods in the state since last week.
MP youth donates blankets to flood-hit people in relief homes
A 30-year-old man from Madhya Pradesh usually comes to Kerala during the monsoon season to sell blankets, door to door. This year, when he landed in Kannur in North Kerala, he heard about the devastating rains and floods in the state that had left 37 dead and destroyed homes of many. Without any hesitation, the youth, who ekes out a living selling blankets door to door, reached a relief camp housing some tribal families, including children, of Aaralm here, and donated 50 blankets. Vishnu's gesture has won him praise in the social media. "Meet Vishnu from Madhya Pradesh who sells blankets in Kerala. He donated all his 50 blankets for people who are now shifted to govt shelter centers due to heavy floods in Kerala. #Salute#," said a tweet. "People from all walks of life in Kerala are hailing his great deed. What really impressed me is that he is not a rich but toiling round the clock for his bread and butter. but still he is keeping such big heart!," said another tweet.
Situation in flood-affected Kerala 'very serious':Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today made an aerial survey of two rain-ravaged districts of Kerala and said the situation in the state was "very serious". He assured the state government of all help from the Centre to meet the challenges posed by the unprecedented floods in Kerala. The Minister was addressing affected people at a relief camp at Elanthikkara in Paravur Taluk in Ernakulam district. "Today we conducted an aerial survey of flood affected areas with the Chief Minister and I reached the conclusion that the situation is very serious in Kerala due to floods," he said. "And I would like to assure the state government that all sorts of support will be provided by the central government to meet the challenges of the flood situation," he said The Central government stands firmly with the state government in this situation, the union minister said. Singh was speaking in the presence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam, who ...
Rajnath takes stock of situation in Kerala
After days of incessant rainfall leading to floods in Kerala, Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister KJ Alphons on Sunday undertook an aerial survey of the flood-affected regions in the state,.As per latest information, 33 people were dead and six were missing in rain-related incidents in the state. Vijayan confirmed death of 33 people and six missing. "Such destruction has never before been witnessed in the state. The entire state has come together in these circumstances, and we are ready to do whatever is necessary," said Vijayan.To help the state cope with the flood situation, Madras regiment from Pangode Military Station at Idukki has launched Operation Sahyog, which is coordinated by the Indian Army's Karnataka and Kerala sub-area, headquartered at Bangalore.Pangode Military Station, under Karnataka and Kerala sub-area of the Indian Army, deployed three columns of the army exclusively in two flood-affected districts of the state,
Homeless, penniless! Camp inmates in Kerala stare at bleak future
Her one-story house collapsed and savings of a lifetime vanished in a flash in the rain fury that has wrecked havoc in Kerala in the past few days. Baby, in her early 50s, lost everything in a landslip and is currently lodged at a relief camp at Kalpetta in the high range Wayanad district. "Everything turned upside down in a few seconds...Now, we have no house, no furniture, no utensils...what will we do...I do not know how will we live after getting out from here," says the teary-eyed woman. Baby is inconsolable when she says the rain even washed away the books and certificates of her children. Baby is among thousands of people who had to leave their houses, destroyed or damaged in heavy rains, and seek refuge in relief camps. According to the latest official figures, more than 60,000 people, including women, toddlers and senior citizens, have been lodged in various relief camps across 14 districts of the southern state following the unprecedented monsoon rains that triggered ...
33 dead, 6 missing in Kerala floods: CM Vijayan
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday confirmed 33 deaths and six missing in Kerala floods.Vijayan said, "33 people have died in the floods and six are missing. Such destruction has never before been witnessed in the state. The entire state has come together in these circumstances, and we are ready to do whatever is necessary."The Chief Minister further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also extended his help if needed to tackle the situation."State Police, NDRF, Army and other forces are working with the same motive - to help the people of the state. The PM called us and said that any more help needed, will be provided to us," he added.Meanwhile, over 1000 people including elderly women and children have been rescued in areas where the Indian Army's ten columns comprising more than 40 composite teams are working round the clock to ensure that the last person stranded in the floods is rescued.Flash floods due to incessant rains have wreaked havoc in several ...
Jammu-Srinagar highway restored
The strategic Jammu-Srinagar highway was restored for traffic on Sunday after remaining closed for several hours because of a fallen boulder.
Family of man who stole, crashed plane stunned, heartbroken
The family of an airport ground service agent who stole a passenger plane in the US, performed some amazing stunts and then crashed it, taking his own life, are stunned and heartbroken. "This is a complete shock to us," the family of 29-year-old Richard Russell said in a statement they released last night after he stole a passenger plane on Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and was killed when he crashed on Ketron Island, some 40 kms away. "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now," the statement said while describing Russell as "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend." Referring to audio recordings of Russell talking to air traffic control during his hour-long flight, the statement said his "intent was not to harm anyone. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him." Russell, a Horizon Air ground service agent for three-and-a-half years, was the only person ...
NDRF man rescues child; Brave act wins praise on social media
An NDRF officer rescued a sick child by sprinting across a bridge moments before it got submerged in gushing flood waters in rain-ravaged Kerala, with an image of his daring act going viral on the social media. The National Disaster Response Force team member, later identified as Kanhaiya Kumar, saw a man with a child asking for help from the other side of the narrow Cheruthoni Bridge near the Idukki Dam in the district, which was opened last week after a gap of 26 years. He responded in a flash, ran across, grabbed the child and rushed back, unmindful of his safety. A photograph of Kumar snapped while scurrying across the bridge with the child two days ago, has gone viral on the social media with netizens showering praise on him. "As the waters were rising, I saw a man waving asking for help with a young child from the other side of the bridge. I crossed the bridge, grabbed the girl child and sprinted back as soon as I could to the other side," he said later. The NDRF also rescued a .