Page 619 - Disaster Accident
Aiming to train 15 lakh people via driving school network by 2020: Maruti
Country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) today said it aims to train 15 lakh people through its driving school network by 2020. The auto major, which opened its 450th driving centre today at Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, has already imparted training to over 5.3 lakh people on safe driving in the last five years, MSI said in a statement. Nearly 46 per cent of the people trained through Maruti Driving School (MDS) network are women, it added. "Our aim is to continue expanding the MDS network and train 1.5 million people on quality driving skills by 2020," MSI Senior Executive Director Marketing and Sales R S Kalsi said. The company believes that a scientifically designed driving training program will help to make Indian roads safer, he added. Road accidents are the cause of over 1.5 lakh deaths every year in India. Around 1.75 lakh people were trained at the centres in 2017-18. With this 450th centre, MDS network now covers 212 cities across country. MSI has set up the driving ...
New report highlights gov't shortcomings in MH370 mystery
An independent investigation report released today more than four years after Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared highlighted shortcomings in the government response that exacerbated the mystery. The report reiterated Malaysia's assertion the plane was deliberately diverted and flown for over seven hours after severing communications. It said the cause of the disappearance still cannot be determined and the "possibility of intervention by a third party cannot be excluded." The plane carrying 239 people from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing vanished March 8, 2014, and is presumed to have crashed in the far southern Indian Ocean. Family members of those onboard the plane said they were frustrated as there were many gaps in the investigations and questions left unanswered. Scattered pieces of debris that washed ashore on African beaches and Indian Ocean islands indicated a distant remote stretch of the ocean where the plane likely crashed. But a government search by Australia, Malaysia and ..
Ten killed, seven injured in rain related incidents in UP
Ten persons were killed and seven others injured in rain related incidents in different parts of Uttar Pradesh during past 24 hours, a senior official said here today. The maximum 11 deaths were reported from Saharanpur district. "10 persons were killed and seven injured in different parts of UP since yesterday. The toll since last week in such incidents has reached 80 while total injuries are 84 till 11.30 am today," Relief Commissioner Sanjay Prasad said. 44 cattle were killed and 451 houses were also damaged in these incidents, he said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed senior officials of all the districts to undertake extensive tours in the affected areas and identify dilapidated buildings and get them vacated, a government spokesperson said here. Adityanath has directed officials to give financial and medical assistance to the people severely affected by the rains.
California wildfires claim more lives; crews make progress
Thousands more fled their homes after wildfires surged near a small lake town in Northern California while a deadly blaze farther north slowed slightly as crews stretched to their limits across the state fight flames that have claimed the lives of two firefighters and six civilians. Residents of the waterfront town Lakeport fled yesterday after a major flare-up of two fires that combined across Mendocino and Lake counties destroyed at least four homes. Lakeport, home to about 5,000, is around 120 miles north of San Francisco. More than 4,500 buildings were under threat, officials said. The two fires had blackened 47 square miles (122 square kilometers), with minimal containment. About 100 miles (160 kilometers) northeast, officials near Redding struck a hopeful tone for the first time in days as a massive fire slowed following days of explosive growth. "We're feeling a lot more optimistic today as we're starting to gain some ground rather than being in a defensive mode on this fire ..
Apple offers free repair of its products for flood-hit Japanese users
Apple will help the flood-affected Japanese people by undertaking free repair of iPhones, iPads, iPods, Mac computers, Apple Watches and Apple's displays damaged in the torrential rains that hit the western part of the country earlier this month.
14 killed in Vietnam wedding party car crash
Fourteen members of the same family were killed in a car crash in central Vietnam today enroute to a wedding party, including the groom who died instantly when their van hit a container truck, police said. Road accidents are the leading cause of death in Vietnam, where traffic laws are loosely obeyed and road infrastructure is patchy. The victims of today's car crash in Quang Nam were members of an extended family, including the groom, who were heading to the bride's family home in a neighbouring province, a police officer told AFP. Their 16-seater van collided with a container truck at around 2:30 am (1930 GMT Sunday), killing 13 people instantly. Another died later in hospital. "All victims' bodies were brought back to their home for burial. We are treating some of the injured in a local hospital," the policeman said, requesting anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press. Local authorities said today they were investigating the cause of the deadly crash. Around ..
California wildfire destroys over 650 homes
Authorities say a massive blaze in Northern California has destroyed more than 650 homes since it broke out July 23. Cal Fire officials said the so-called Carr Fire currently threatens more than 5,000 structures. The fire exploded on Thursday and took out neighbourhoods in Redding, a city about 230 miles north of San Francisco. However, officials say the blaze has slowed down and they expect containment numbers to grow. The deadly wildfire has forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. It has also killed two firefighters and two children and their great-grandmother. A sixth victim was found yesterday but authorities didn't immediately release that person's identity.
Hikers trapped on mountain after Indonesian quake
More than 200 hikers are trapped on a mountain on the Indonesian tourist island of Lombok, after a deadly earthquake triggered landslides which cut off escape routes.
27 trains cancelled due to closure of Yamuna bridge
The Indian Railways on Monday announced that the old Yamuna Bridge 'Loha Pul' has been temporarily closed for rail traffic as the water level reached around 205.53-meter mark.Due to the closure of the Yamuna Bridge, at least 27 passenger trains have been cancelled while seven have been diverted.Meanwhile, due to less availability of shelter homes, families residing near old Yamuna Bridge in the national capital are allegedly forced to stay on roads as they were evacuated from their homes after the water level of the river crossed the danger mark.On a related note, the District Magistrate (DM) of East Delhi, K. Mahesh earlier on Sunday ordered the closure of traffic on the old Yamuna Bridge with immediate effect after flooding in river Yamuna crossing water level crossed danger mark.On Sunday, the water level touched 205.46 metres, reaching beyond the danger mark of 204.83 metres.
More than 500 hikers stranded on mountain after Indonesia quake: Official
More than 500 hikers and their guides remain stranded by landslides on an active volcano on Lombok, a day after a powerful earthquake struck the Indonesian holiday island, a national park official said today. Helicopters and rescue teams on foot have been deployed to scour the slopes of Mount Rinjani, which is crisscrossed with hiking routes popular with tourists. "There are still 560 people trapped. Five hundred are in Segara Anakan area, and 60 are in Batu Ceper,"said the head of Rinjani national park Sudiyono, who goes by one name. Sixteen people were killed and hundreds of buildings were destroyed by the shallow 6.4-magnitude quake, which sent people running from their homes early in the morning yesterday. The quake also dislodged tonnes of rock and mud on Mt. Rinjani, leaving people with no easy way down. Rising some 3,726 metres (12,224 feet) above sea level, the peak is the second-tallest volcano in Indonesia and a favourite among sightseers keen to take in its expansive ...
23 bodies recovered after Myanmar landslide
Twenty three bodies have been recovered from a site where 27 people went missing last week after a landslide hit Myanmar's Kachin state, media reports said on Monday.
Yamuna overflow: Evacuated families forced to stay on roads
Due to less availability of shelter homes, families residing near old Yamuna Bridge in the national capital are allegedly forced to stay on roads as they were evacuated from their homes after the water level of the river crossed the danger mark."Everything is visible here for people to see. We have not been provided any kind of support from the government since we left our houses due to overflow of water in Yamuna river. We are now forced to live on the streets. I was staying near the bridge," one of the members of the families told ANI.Another one alleged that most of the Rain Baseras (shelter homes) are full due to which they are forced to sleep on footpaths."Rain Baseras are full. We were staying in temporary houses near the bridge. However, the government asked us to leave and now we are left with no other means," the person said.On a related note, the District Magistrate (DM) of East Delhi, K. Mahesh earlier on Sunday ordered closure of traffic on the old Yamuna Bridge with ...
Yamuna river rises: Khattar calls emergency meeting
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today held an emergency meeting with senior officials in the wake of rising level of Yamuna river due to heavy rains in the catchment areas, and directed them to stay alert to deal with any untoward situation. He also conducted an aerial survey of the Hathnikund barrage located on Yamuna river in Yamunanagar district. The minister was told that 6,05,949 cusecs of water flowing from the Hathnikund barrage was passing through Karnal and would reach Delhi by tomorrow. With Yamuna flowing close to the danger mark, several villages were flooded leading to crop losses, officials said. In some villages in Yamunanagar district, the flood waters entered ouses and buildings. The administration has deployed boats at various places for people to commute from one village to other and to evacuate them, if the water level rises further, they said. The water level rose in the wake of continuous rains in catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh. Khattar sought ...
Death toll from Greek wildfire reaches 91 as village grieves
Fire officials in Greece raised the death toll from a wildfire that raged through a coastal area east of Athens to 91 and reported that 25 people were missing today, six days after Europe's deadliest forest fire in more than a century. Before the national fire service updated the official number of fatalities, it stood at 86 as hundreds of mourners attended a morning memorial service today for the victims in the seaside village hardest-hit by the blaze. The fire sped flames through the village of Mati without warning on July 23. A database maintained by the Centre for the Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters in Brussels shows it as the deadliest wildfire in Europe since 1900. The vast majority of victims died in the fire itself, though a number drowned in the sea while fleeing the flames. Until Sunday night, Greek officials had not provided a tally of the people reported missing. The senior local Greek Orthodox Church official, Bishop Kyrillos, presided over the memorial service .
'Erratic' winds, dry conditions fuel deadly California fires
Around 12,000 firefighters battled today to contain wildfires in California that have killed six -- but authorities warned "erratic" winds and dry conditions have caused the flames to grow and spread. "Very hot and dry conditions will continue over the West coast states through Sunday. Conditions around the Carr wildfire near Redding, California will continue to be conducive to rapid wildfire growth and spread," the National Weather Service said this morning. Firefighters in Shasta County, in northern California, where the Carr Fire began on July 23, warned on Twitter that "erratic winds and hot, dry conditions on the #CarrFire resulted in greater growth and increased fire behavior last night." Two firefighters were killed fighting the blaze and three people -- a 70-year-old woman and her two great-grandchildren aged five and four -- perished when their mobile home was surrounded by flames. According to the most recent available reports, the Carr Fire -- only 5 per cent contained -- ..
Fresh air strikes hit Yemen's Hodeida province: UN
The United Nations today said air raids struck Yemen's Red Sea province of Hodeida for three days, damaging a water plant and placing civilians at "extreme risk". "On 26, 27 and 28 July, air strikes occurred near a reproductive health centre and public laboratory in Hodeida and hit and damaged a sanitation facility in Zabid and a water station, which supplies the majority of the water to Hodeida City," the office of the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen said in a statement. "These air strikes are putting innocent civilians at extreme risk," the statement said. The UN office said that "damage to sanitation, water and health facilities jeopardises everything we are trying to do" and warned "we could be one air strike away from an unstoppable epidemic". The strikes comes less than one month after the United Arab Emirates, part of a Saudi-led coalition backing the Yemeni government, said it had suspended an offensive to take the port city to give UN mediation efforts a ...
Raigad accident: Kin to get govt jobs
The kin of Raigad bus accident victims will get jobs in the Maharashtra government on compassionate ground, state minister Ravindra Waikar announced today. All the 30 people killed in the accident yesterday were staffers of the Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, located at Dapoli in Ratnagiri district. The state government has already announced a financial assistance of Rs four lakh to the kin of each deceased person. "One legal heir from the family of each victim will get a government job. 23 heirs of 30 people who died in the accident would get job, as the deceased were full time staffers. The state government will consider rest seven as the special case and see they will also get some government job," said Waikar, who is Guardian Minister of Ratnagiri district. The minister today visited Dapoli to take stock of the situation. Thirty staffers died after the bus they were travelling in fell into a 500-foot deep gorge in Ambenali ghat, which has sharp curves, ...
After water level in Yamuna rises, Mathura authorities ask people not to panic
The Mathura district administration has asked people not to panic as necessary safety arrangement have been made in view of the rising water level in the Yamuna river. While 23 flood relief camps have been earmarked, 33 flood outpost set up with 148 boats requested to remain on stand by. "Considering the rising trend of Yamuna that has crossed danger level in Delhi, people living in low-lying areas have not only been alerted but advised to shift to nearing police outpost, in case of rising trend of the river continues," District Magistrate Sarvagya Ram Mishra said. He said, the river was flowing at 163.5 meters today with the danger mark being 166 meters. He said, the river is likely to cross danger level by tomorrow evening or by Tuesday morning, however, there is no need to panic since necessary arrangements have been made. Sub divisional magistrates have been asked to maintain vigil and watch the rising trend of the river. In Delhi, the Yamuna's water level remained above the ...
Chartered accountant injured in Andheri bridge collapse dies
A Palghar resident today succumbed to injuries he received when a portion of a road bridge collapsed on to the tracks at Mumbai's Andheri railway station on July 3. Manoj Mehta (52), a chartered accountant associated with a prominent construction firm in the Palghar-Boisar belt, died at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai's Vile Parle area, members of his family said here today. Mehta was a former president of the Rotary Club in neighbouring Palghar district and was also associated with several educational and social institutions, they added. Earlier, on July 8, a 36-year-old woman, Asmita Katkar, died in RN Cooper Hospital in Juhu in Mumbai after being grievously hurt in the bridge collapse. The gangway of a road overbridge, connecting the eastern and western parts of suburban Andheri, collapsed above Western Railway's tracks early morning on July 3.
Maha bus accident: All 30 bodies retrieved from gorge; ops called off
The bodies of all the 30 victims of yesterday's bus accident in Maharashtra's Raigad district were retrieved from a gorge, police said today. As all the bodies were retrieved, the police called off the rescue operation at Ambenali Ghat near Poladpur town, located around 180 km from here, Kundan Gawde, PRO, Raigad Police, said. Asked about the death toll, he said, "We have received information from the Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth in Dapoli that only 31 staff members were travelling in the ill-fated bus and not 34 (as reported earlier)." Of the 31 persons, including the driver, only one -- Prakash Sawant-Desai -- survived the accident as he jumped out of the bus, he added. Gawde said all the victims were identified and the bodies handed over to their family members after completing the formalities. The victims were staffers of the Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, located at Dapoli in Ratnagiri district, the police said. They had hired the private bus for a picnic and were headed .