Page 601 - Disaster Accident
Over 100 stranded Indian pilgrims evacuated in Nepal
Over 100 Indian pilgrims were airlifted today after being stranded for three days in Nepal's Humla district on their way back home from the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage in Tibet. Out of the 165 pilgrims who were stranded in Humla's Simikot due to bad weather, 110 were airlifted after flights were operated following improvement in weather conditions, according to Indian Embassy sources. Around 55 pilgrims are still in Simikot and they will be evacuated tomorrow. The pilgrims were stranded for three days as commercial flights could not operate due to bad weather. Heavy rains in central and western Nepal have forced domestic airlines to suspend their regular flights. Last month, more than 1,500 Indians were stranded at various places in Nepal on their way to Kailash Mansarovar and back. Following the incident, the Indian government on July 5 had issued an advisory for travel to Kailash Mansarovar through the Nepal route. The advisory had stated that Simikot and Hilsa are places lacking .
One more dies in Assam floods, toll reaches 46
A person died in flash floods in Assam's Hojai district taking the number of flood related deaths in the state to 46, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said today. According to ASDMA the latest casualty was reported from Lanka revenue circle. In one of the worst affected districts of Golaghat, more than 81,000 people have been displaced by the devastating floods, the ASDMA said, adding that till yesterday, over 87,000 people remain affected across the state. Currently, 110 villages are under water and 6,855 hectares of crop areas have been damaged, it said. Authorities are running 109 relief camps and distribution centres in the district, where 20,651 people are taking shelter at present, the ASDMA said. Currently, the Brahmaputra river at Nimatighat in Jorhat and Dhansiri at Numaligarh in Golaghat are flowing above the danger mark, it added. Massive erosion has occurred at various places in Udalguri and Barpeta districts while embankments and roads have been ...
Missing man in US traced
A 26-year-old man from Santosh Nagar here, who had reportedly gone missing in the US in July last week, has been traced, his family said today. Mirza Ahmed Ali Baig, after his graduation had left for the US in July 2015 for higher studies and had also been working at a store on a part-time basis and now resided in New Jersey, but had "disappeared" during last week of July. After he went "missing", his family had sought External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's help. Baig's elder brother Mirza Mukharam said Baig had called up his another brother Mirza Sujat last night and informed him about his safety. "Our only concern was on his safety and he himself called up and confirmed that he is safe," Mirza Mukharam said, adding that during a brief telephonic conversation he said he is safe and there was no need to worry. According to Mukharam, he went away willingly and wanted to stay away for some time and has now asked to stop searching for him. He did not elaborate on his ...
Heavy rains hit life in Odisha; downpour likely to continue
Life remained crippled in most parts of Odisha due to heavy downpour triggered by a low pressure which turned into a depression today raising the likelihood of more rains. Train services as well as road traffic were severely affected in several areas of the state due to waterlogging caused by incessant rains since yesterday, officials said. At least five trains were cancelled, 11 others partially cancelled, five trains rescheduled and originating station of five others altered, East Coast Railway (ECoR) sources said, adding that waterlogging and flooding was also reported in the Puri railway station yard. Movement of vehicles was hit in several places as road links were snapped due to gushing water, while educational institutions remained closed in Cuttack and Khurda, officials said. As the state was grappling with the situation caused by heavy rains, the low pressure area has concentrated into a depression over northwest Bay of Bengal this evening, Director of the Meteorological ...
Rijiju seeks probe into death of Arunachal youth in train in UP
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju today asked the Uttar Pradesh government and the Ministry of Railways to conduct a proper investigation into the death of a youth from Arunachal Pradesh while travelling in a train. Upon hearing about the death of Tage Dule, the minister immediately took up the matter with the offices of the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and the Railway minister with the request to investigate the incident to ascertain the facts and circumstances leading to the death of the youth, an official statement said. Expressing concern over the death of Dule, a resident of Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh, on August 3, Rijiju sought action against the culprits and a probe to find out whether there was any malafide intent in the youth's death. The minister of state for home said the probe should ascertain whether the incident is related to discrimination against the people from the Northeast. Conveying condolence to the family of the deceased, Rijiju also asked the Uttar Pradesh ...
Plane overshoots airstrip, hits boundary wall in Sri Ganganagar
A Cessna aircraft carrying seven passengers overshot the airstrip while landing and hit a boundary wall in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan today, officials said. All the passengers and crew were safe, they said. "The incident occurred during the landing of the aircraft which arrived at Lalgarh from the Sanganer airport of Jaipur," SHO, Lalgarh Police Station, Tejwant Singh said. He said all the seven passengers, the pilot and the co-pilot were safe. The plane overshot and hit the boundary wall at the time of landing, he said adding it was around 1755 hrs. A representative of Supreme Airlines, which operates the flight service, said the pilot could not land properly due to the presence of birds on the airstrip and the plane overshot. Flight service between Jaipur and Sri Ganganagar was started last month as part of an intra-state air connectivity project of the state government.
22 children injure as school bus falls into pond
At least 22 children were injured when their school bus overturned and fell into a pond in Khaira village here this morning, police said. Around 45 children of Gyanodaya Inter College were on their way to school when the accident occurred, some 280 km from the state capital, they said. Twenty-two children were rescued and admitted to a community health centre here, they said. School manager Phoolchand Yadav, however, said there were only 27 children in the bus at the time of the accident and 12 of them injured. "They suffered minor bruises and were discharged after first aid," Yadav said, adding the accident occurred when the driver tried to give pass to a two-wheeler coming from behind and lost balance.
Cargo ship hits fishing boat, 3 dead
Authorities have zeroed in on an Indian cargo ship off Kerala which is learnt to have hit an Indian fishing boat early on Tuesday killing three fishermen and injuring two, Kerala Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty said.
Rain causes flood-like situation in Dehradun
Incessant rains in various parts of Uttarakhand created a flood-like situation in Dehradun today as the Song river inundated Gauhrimafi village near Rishikesh, prompting the administration to evacuate 96 people to safe locations. A relief camp with a capacity to accommodate 150 people has been built in Raiwala, the state emergency operation centre (SDRF) here said. The SDRF has rescued 96 residents, including 14 women and 10 children, and shifted them to safer locations, it said. Landslides in different parts of the state have blocked 120 rural roads. The Met department has warned of more rain over next 24 hours with heavy rain likely at isolated places, especially in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh districts. Though schools reopened in Dehradun today, intermittent drizzling continued throughout the day.
Rijiju asks UP government to probe Arunachal youth's death
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Monday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate the death of a youth from Arunachal Pradesh who died due to injuries while travelling by train in the state, an official statement said.
Rijiju asks for a probe into death of Arunachalee youth in UP
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has asked the Railway Minister and the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh to initiate an enquiry into the death of a young man from Arunachal Pradesh who died after falling from a train in Uttar Pradesh on August 3 last. Tage Dule from Ziro in Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh fell from a train in Uttar Pradesh on August 3 last and later succumbed to his injuries. Expressing concern over the tragic incident, Rijiju, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, immediately took up the matter with the Railway Minister and Uttar Pradesh chief minister with request for investigation to ascertain the circumstances and facts that led to the death of the youth, a government press release said here today. Rijiju also sought action against the culprits, if there was any malafide intent. The minister sought that the probe should ascertain whether the incident is related to discrimination against the North-East people, it said. While condoling .
4 killed in China mine accident
Four people were killed and nine others were missing in a coal mine accident in China's Guizhou province, authorities said on Tuesday.
PIL seeks CBI probe into Ghatkopar plane crash
The Bombay High Court issued notices to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the CBI today on a petition seeking a probe by the central agency into the aircraft crash in Mumbai in June in which five people were killed. A bench of Justices Ranjit More and Anuja Prabhudessai directed the CBI and the Union ministry to file replies within four weeks. The bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by activist Yeshwant Shenoy. On June 28 this year, a King Air C-90 aircraft belonging to UY Aviation crashed into a construction site in suburban Ghatkopar during a test flight. Four people on board and a pedestrian were killed in the incident. While the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is probing the crash, the petition said the CBI was better-equipped to do the job.
Indonesia earthquake death toll reaches 105
The death toll in the 6.9 magnitude Indonesia earthquake climbed to 105 on Tuesday while rescue teams continued to search for survivors under the rubble.
Probe on, screening at Priya Cinema has to wait
Screening of films in Priya Cinema where a fire had broken out during night show on Sunday would be closed for a few days more as the probe into the incident was still on, fire brigade officials said here today. Director General of Fire Services Jagmohan said screenings at the theatre would begin only after its got clearance from the fire department and it might take a few days more. "We have asked the theatre owners to send us a report about the incident and fire safety measures taken on their part including specifying the number of exit gates," Jagmohan told reporters today. "Besides, we are going through the findings of our own team besides going through report of other agencies," he said. Fire Services Minister Sovan Chatterjee said it was being examined if there was any lapse on the part of anyone including the hall owner. The government would take every step to ensure safety of the audience and those visiting the restaurants functioning on the ground floor of the ..
Portuguese wildfires encircle Algarve resort town
Hundreds of Portuguese firefighters and soldiers battled ferocious forest fires that threatened to engulf an Algarve resort town today, after sweltering temperatures kindled blazes that have whipped across the region. A heatwave across Europe sent the mercury above 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) in some areas of Portugal at the weekend, with fire crews struggling to extinguish wildfires around Monchique that have left 29 people injured, one seriously. Fire crews used aeroplanes and helicopters as well as several hundred vehicles Tuesday in a fresh attempt to contain the blazes, which have raged for days stoked by strong winds. The wildfires, which have consumed some 15,000 hectares (76,000 acres) of forest, crept closer to the enclave overnight, leaving behind a blackened path of charred houses and incinerated cars. "There are several main homes affected. But for the moment we are not yet able to make an assessment," said Monchique mayor Rui Andre, according to local media. A ...
IFSF for concrete action against illegal GM food items in Indian market
Pressing the food safety regulator to take concrete action against illegal genetically modified (GM) food items in the Indian markets, a delegation of citizens representing India For Safe Food (IFSF) today demanded that these be removed and punitive action be initiated against the violators. The response came in the wake of a report released by the Centre for Science and Environment which said that GM processed food items, including infant food, were being widely sold in the country illegally. Reacting to the report, the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of india) maintained that the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 provides that no person shall manufacture, distribute, sell or import any genetically modified article of food except as otherwise provided under the Act and regulations made thereunder. The FSSAI said the threshold level for labelling of GM foods refers to the maximum permissible level (in percent) of unintentional and technically unavoidable GMO content in ..
Tata Nexon gets 4-star rating from Global NCAP
Tata Motor's compact SUV Nexon has received four stars from Global NCAP based on the crash test results done by the UK-based vehicle safety group. The compact SUV received 4 stars for adult occupant protection and three stars for child occupants, while its body shell has been rated as stable. Global NCAP Secretary General David Ward said the four stars awarded to the Tata Nexon represent a very strong result from a major Indian car manufacturer. "This impressive safety performance is comfortably above the new crash test standards applied in India to new models since October 2017," he added. Tata Motors in a statement said the Nexon achieved the highest adult safety score amongst all the models tested across the Indian market. "The Global NCAP results are a reflection of our commitment towards bringing technologically advanced features which are safe yet stylish," Tata Motors President Passenger Vehicles Business Unit Mayank Pareek said. In 2016, Tata Motor's compact sedan Zest with ..
Kerala: 3 fishermen killed after ship collides with boat
Three fishermen were killed after a ship collided with a boat, carrying around 14 fishermen, at the Munamban harbour of Ernakulam district in Kerala.While two victims were saved by fishermen nearby, nine others are still missing. The incident took place in the wee hours of Tuesday, approximately 24 nautical miles (44Kms) away from the shore.The Directorate General of Shipping has been informed about the incident. The Joint Operation Centre in Kochi, under the Southern Naval Command, is monitoring the entire situation.Superintendent of Police (rural) Rahul R Nair said, "Coast Guard, Navy vessels, and helicopters are on a lookout. So far, two bodies have been recovered. We are yet to identify the nine missing people."The rescue operation is underway, while the Navy has already diverted a Sea King helicopter in the air to proceed to the spot for the search and rescue of survivors. A Dornier aircraft has also been launched to look around the entire area.Meanwhile, Indian Coast Guard has .
3 dead, 9 missing as merchant ship hits fishing boat off Munambam coast
Three fishermen were killed and nine went missing off the coast of Munambam, here today, when their boat was hit by a merchant ship, officials said. The incident occurred at around 3.30 am. The boat, which had 14 fishermen aboard, was 24 nautical miles off the Munambam coast when the merchant vessel hit it. The boat capsized soon after, officials said, adding that the merchant ship fled the scene. Bodies of two fishermen who died were brought to the coast and two injured fishermen were admitted to a hospital, the police said. A search is on to trace nine people still missing in the mishap. Reportedly, the boat had 11 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, two from West Bengal and one from Kerala. Defence sources said the merchant vessel involved in the incident has been identified. However, the matter could be confirmed only after interrogation. The identified merchant vessel is registered in India. The Navy has diverted a Sea King helicopter which was en route to the area for search and rescue ..