Page 608 - Disaster Accident

Heavy rain alert for Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand authorities on Saturday issued an alert about heavy rains in the next 72 hours.

Delhi's air quality improves

Delhi's air quality improved slightly a day after it slipped into the 'poor' category due to a dust storm that originated from the Arabian peninsula, authorities said today. Last week, the air quality became 'good' for the first this year. But after a dust storm from Oman, the air quality index slipped to 'poor' category, an official with the Central Pollution Control Board said. But as the dust started subsided, the air quality improved and has now come under 'moderate' category, he said. The air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 195, which falls under the 'moderate' category as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. The PM10 (particulate matter) levels increased to settle at 254 micrograms per cubic metre (g/m3) today. This is over two times the prescribed standard of 100 g/m3. The PM2.5 was in the moderate category at 66 g/m3 as per CPCB. An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and ...

Russian helicopter crash kills 18 in Siberia

Eighteen people were killed in a Russian helicopter crash on Saturday in East Siberia region, authorities said.

Russia: 18 killed in helicopter crash

A helicopter crash in Siberia's Krasnoyarsk region has killed as many as 18 people, including three pilots.According to China's state-run news agency, Xinhua, a Mi-8 copter made a harsh landing in Turukhansk district, which is located two kilometres away from the village of Igarka, earlier in the day.The authorities believe that the crash happened due to the technical failure and a pilot's error. The rotorcraft fell apart after losing balance and immediately caught fire.This is the second such incident that has occurred within a week.On August 1, an Aeromexico commercial flight carrying 97 passengers and four crew members crashed in the Mexican state of Durango. However, no deaths were reported, according to CNN.

20 killed, 8 missing as heavy rains trigger flood in China

Twenty people were killed and eight others went missing as torrential rains triggered flood in northwest China, state-run media reported today. Over 8,700 houses, farmland, roads, railway lines and power and telecommunication facilities were damaged in the floods that have wreaked havoc in China since early this week, it said. While 20 people died this week in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, eight remained missing after heavy downpours hit Qincheng Township in Hami on July 31, state-run Xinhua news agency said. The floods triggered a partial breach of a reservoir, as the floodwater flowing into the reservoir reached 1,848 cubic metres per second, tripling the maximum of 537 cubic metres per second designed to withstand the worst flood in 300 years. Meanwhile, over 5,500 people have been evacuated and provided with tents, daily necessities and medical treatment in temporary relocation sites, the report said. More than 3,000 people, including government officials, soldiers and medical

Three killed, seven injured in multiple vehicle collision

Three persons were killed and seven others injured today in a multiple collision involving two cars and a two-wheeler on Coimbatore-Palakkad Road on the outskirts. Police said the driver of a car suddenly applied brake to avoid hitting a two-wheeler and another car rammed into it, killing three persons travelling in the first vehicle. Seven persons in both the cars and the two-wheeler rider were seriously injured, they said. They have been admitted to a nearby private hospital.

Russian helicopter crash in northern Siberia kills 18: Ministry

Moscow today said 18 people were killed when a helicopter crashed on its way to an oil station in northern Siberia in the early hours of the morning. The Russian Transport Ministry said the Mi-8 helicopter carrying three crew members and 15 passengers crashed when it collided with machinery carried by another helicopter soon after takeoff. It added that the second helicopter landed safely and that the accident took place in "normal" weather conditions.

5 killed, 1 injured in truck-car collision

Five employees of Jharkhand State Electricity Board were killed while another is battling for life after a truck hit their vehicle in Seraikela, about 35 kms from here, police today said. The accident happened late yesterday night when they were returning after an official visit to Chaibasa in West Singhbhum district. A speeding truck collided head on with their sports utility vehicle (SUV), Officer-in-charge of Seraikela police station Ranvijay Singh said. The injured has been admitted to the government-run MGM Hospital. Four of them were killed on the spot under the impact of the collision while two others were rushed to MGM Hospital in critical condition, of whom one died later on, he said. The truck has been confiscated but its driver managed to escape, Singh said.

5 killed, 7 injured as jeep rams into truck in UP

At least five persons, including three women, were killed and seven others injured when their jeep rammed into a stationary truck on Jaunpur-Rae Bareli road, police said today. The incident took place late last night when some devotees from Varanasi were travelling to Allahabad when their jeep tried to overtake a truck and collided with a stationary truck at a roadside eatery near Machlishahr, Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Pandey said. He said that four passengers died on the spot, while another succumbed to her injuries at a district hospital. The deceased have been identified as Manoj Patel (28), Jai Prakash (35), Sarita Devi (33), Sushila (34) and Sharmila (22). Pandey said that seven persons have sustained serious injuries and have been admitted to a district hospital. The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem, he said.

One more body found, AP quarry blast toll 11

The death toll in the explosion at a stone quarry in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district rose to 11 with one more body being recovered at the blast site today, police said. The massive explosion at the quarry unit in Hathi Belgal under Aluru Mandal last night claimed 10 lives and left four seriously injured. A detailed investigation has been launched into the incident, Kurnool District Collector S Satyanarayana said. The exact cause of the blast would be ascertained after the probe, he said. Meanwhile, the state government has announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia for the kin of each of the deceased. The victims are said to be from Odisha. The explosion occurred when regular work was being carried out at the quarry unit, an investigating officer had said yesterday. "At least 20 workers were said to be at the spot when the gelatin sticks used for blasting the quarry exploded. The sudden explosion trapped the workers, causing the fatalities," the officer said. The injured have been shifted to a ..

18 killed in Russia helicopter crash

Eighteen people were killed in a helicopter crash on Saturday in Russia's Krasnoyarsk region, authorities said.

18 feared dead in Russian chopper crash

Eighteen people are feared killed after an MI-8 helicopter crashed in the Krasnoyarsk region of Siberia, Russia, according to preliminary reports.

Tornado rips through parts of New York City

A tornado has touched down in New York City's easternmost borough of Queens, causing damage to homes and knocking down trees and power lines in some neighbourhoods.

Father, son die after falling into well in UP

A man and his son died after falling into a well in Chandauli's Ramgarh village on Friday.A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescued them; however the two were declared brought dead by the District Hospital.Reportedly the son jumped into the dry well due to some personal reasons, following which the father jumped to save him."We tried our best to save the two. The well was deep and unfortunately, they died till the time we brought them up," said an official of NDRF team.

Sunita Williams among 9 astronauts to fly first commercial spacecraft

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Friday (local time) announced the names of the first astronauts to fly on American-made, commercial spacecraft to and from the International Space Station.The agency assigned nine astronauts, including Sunita Williams, to crew the first test flight, who according to Mark Geyer, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, "are at the forefront of this exciting new time for human spaceflight.""It will be thrilling to see our astronauts lift off from American soil, and we can't wait to see them aboard the International Space Station," he added.The first nine astronauts include-- Eric Boe, Christopher Ferguson, Nicole Aunapu Mann, Robert Behnken, Douglas Hurley, Josh Cassada, Sunita Williams, Victor Glover, Michael Hopkins.Additional crew members will be assigned by NASA's international partners at a later date.As per NASA, it is an endeavour which will return astronaut launches to the United States soil for the first ...

Three dead in Spain as Europe wilts under record heatwave

Three men have died from heatstroke in Spain as Europe sweltered in a record heatwave today, with temperatures hitting a scorching 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) in some areas and meteorologists saying only scant relief is in sight in the coming days. Here is a roundup: - Spain: three dead - ===================== A middle-aged man in Barcelona, who media said appeared to be homeless, was found collapsed on a street and taken to hospital where he later died of heatstroke, Catalonia's civil protection agency said in a statement. Two other men -- a roadworker in his 40s and a 78-year-old pensioner -- also died from heatstroke this week, as Spain is set to experience one of its hottest days this summer on Friday, with temperatures expected to top 44 C in Badajos on the border with Portugal, 42 C in Seville and 40 C in Madrid. - Portugal: record - ==================== In Portugal temperatures topped a record 45 degrees in Alvega, 150 kilometres (93 miles) north of Lisbon, on Thursday.

Greek police minister quits over wildfires disaster

Greece's minister responsible for the police, Nikos Toskas, quit today after the deadliest wildfires in Greek history, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' office said. The premier has been under pressure to sack members of his administration after the fires at the coastal resort of Mati on July 23, the deadliest in Greek history. Eighty-eight people, many of them children, died in the fires with another 40 in hospital and one still listed as missing. Nine of the injured are in a critical condition. "The prime minister has accepted Mr Toskas' resignation," the PM's office said in a statement after a meeting with the minister. The main opposition conservative New Democracy party said Toskas' resignation was "too little, too late", arguing that Tsipras -- who has accepted political responsibility for the tragedy -- should also step down. The fires struck the coastal community popular with holidaymakers, burning with such ferocity that most people fled to the sea with just the clothes on their

8 killed in Andhra quarry blast

At least eight workers were killed in a blast in a quarry in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district on Friday, police said.

10 killed in Andhra quarry blast

At least 10 workers were killed in a powerful explosion in a stone quarry in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district tonight, police said. All the victims are said to be hailing from Odisha and came here for work. The explosion occurred when regular quarrying work was being carried out in the quarry in Hathi Belgal under Aluru mandal, an investigating officer said over phone. "At least 20 workers were said to be at the spot when the gelatine sticks used for blasting the quarry exploded. The sudden explosion trapped the workers, triggering the fatalities," the officer said. At least 10 people were killed and four injured, who were shifted to a hospital. Search is on to trace if there are any survivors, he added. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock over the incident. He spoke to the district authorities and directed them to ensure proper treatment to the injured. Leader of Opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and JanaSena Party chief Pawan Kalyan also expressed grief and extended ...

Bad weather prevents airdrop of essentials in Nagaland

Two Indian Air Force Mi-17 choppers on Friday were ready to airdrop essential commodities in the landslide-affected districts of Nagaland but could not due to inclement weather, an Air Force official said.