Page 633 - Disaster Accident
Pakistan-made eyeliner suspected of causing lead poisoning
Three children in Australia are suspected to have fallen ill from using Pakistan-made Hashmi brand eyeliner contaminated with lead, authorities said.
27 killed in Vietnam floods
At least 27 people have been killed in Vietnam's following heavy flooding and landslides caused by Typhoon Son Tinh that has also left seven missing and 26 injured, the government said on Tuesday.
'Unprecedented' Japan heatwave kills 65 in one week
An "unprecedented" heatwave in Japan has killed at least 65 people in one week, government officials said today, with the weather agency now classifying the record-breaking weather as a "natural disaster." In the week to Sunday at least 65 people died of heat stroke while 22,647 people were hospitalised, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said in a statement. Both figures are "the worst-ever for any week during summer" since the agency began recording fatalities resulting from heat stroke in July 2008, an agency spokesman told AFP. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said Tuesday that a total of 80 people have died from the heat since the beginning of July, and over 35,000 have been hospitalised. Among those killed was six-year-old school boy who lost consciousness on his way back from a field trip. "As a record heatwave continues to blanket the country, urgent measures are required to protect the lives of schoolchildren," top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told ...
Rain suspends Amarnath yatra from Baltal route
Incessant rain has suspended the ongoing Amarnath Yatra on Tuesday, from the Baltal route. The helicopter services have also been suspended from Baltal Axis.Due to continuous rainfall since last night, the route has become slippery and muddy. There is also a possibility of shooting stones and landslides.However, the yatra is continuing from the Pahalgam Axis.The yatra from Baltal and Pahalgam routes was earlier suspended on June 30, due to incessant rains..Prior to that, that yatra was halted on June 27 from the Baltal route due to heavy rainfall.The first batch of pilgrims, undertaking the Amarnath yatra was flagged off on June 27. However, the pilgrimage was temporarily halted a day later due to heavy rainfall at the Baltal base camp.On July 4, five people were killed and three injured after a landslide hit Brarimarg on the Baltal route.
20 killed in Greece wildfires
Forest fires raging across Greece have killed at least 20 people, the government said on Tuesday, as the authorities sought international assistance.
20 killed in Greece forest fires
At least 20 people were killed as two major forest fires broke out in the eastern and western coasts of the Attica region near Greek capital Athens, forcing residents to flee the area on Monday.Greek government official Dimitris Tzanakopoulos was quoted by several media reports saying that 20 people were confirmed dead, while 69 others suffered injuries and were hospitalised.The fire first broke out on Monday afternoon in the coastal region on the western side of Attica, where a forest is situated in the Geraneia Mountains, Anadolu News Agency reported.The second blaze, that broke out on the northeast side of Attica, prompted local authorities to evacuate people to safer areas.The blazes spread across homes situated in the forest, causing massive damage, as per the report.The fire turned the sky over Athens and other surrounding areas into hazy orange, with thick black smoke billowing over.The forest area is surrounded by pines and a firefighting operation is currently on, wherein 70 .
London unveils seven-point pledge to ensure women safety
A seven-point pledge to ensure women safety at night in London has been unveiled at a City Hall seminar in the British capital.
Flood fear looms large in Odisha; death toll mounts to 12
The Odisha government today put the collectors of six districts on high alert in the delta region, with the water level in Mahanadi and Baitarani rivers swelling due to depression-induced heavy rainfall, even as the death toll rose to 12. The government apprehended a "low to medium" flood in Mahanadi and Bitarani and asked district collectors in the delta region to remain prepared for all emergency situations. "We should remain in a state of full preparedness to tackle any emergency situation and provide immediate relief to the affected people," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said after taking stock of the situation here. Stating that the state has received heavy rainfall during the last three days, necessitating evacuation of some people and provision of temporary shelter, Patnaik said the district authorities must start damage estimation. Four persons died in Kalahandi district, while two persons were killed in Sambalpur, and one each in Kandhamal, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Subarnapur, ...
115 Kailash-Mansarovar yatris stranded in U'khand due to inclement weather: Swaraj
As many as 115 Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims have been stranded in Uttarakhand due to inclement weather, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said tonight. She said 115 pilgrims have been stranded at Gunji, Uttarakhand, due to inclement weather. They are being looked after by ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) and Kumaon Vikas Mandal. As weather conditions improve, they will be airlifted to Pithoragarh, Swaraj tweeted. Earlier this month, hundreds of Indian pilgrims were stranded in Nepal's mountainous region while returning from the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in Tibet. They were airlifted to safety after a massive evacuation drive.
Speeding car injures several people, damages 10 vehicles
Several people were injured and ten vehicles damaged after a speeding luxury car rammed into them at Versova area in Mumbai's Andheri suburb in the evening today, police said. Police said that the injured, which included children, have been admitted to nearby hospitals. The driver of the speeding Jaguar was apparently under the influence of alcohol and was thrashed by onlookers before he was handed over to the police, the official added. The angry mob also damaged the car, he said. The driver has been arrested and further probe into the incident was underway, the official said.
Blackbucks safe in flood-hit Odisha, says govt
Odisha government today said the endangered blackbuck population in Ganjam district is safe and there has been no casualty of any of such animals in the flood. Some of the blackbucks were swept away last week but there has been no casualty, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Sandeep Tripathy said. "There has been no casualty. All the blackbucks are safe and under observation of forest officials. The incident had taken place place and nothing to be worried over their safety," Tripathy told PTI. The senior forest official's reaction came in wake of a disturbing video showing a group of blackbucks being swept away in floodwaters of Kharkhari river in Ganjam district. The video was reportedly filmed from the Hume- Purushottampur road near Balia in Ganjam district. Tripathy said blackbucks are not generally found in the area where it was shown that they were swept away. The endangered animals could have come from nearby Aska forest range. Inquiry has revealed ..
National disaster funds need restructuring: Finance Commission
The 15th Finance Commission will be carrying out a robust study for restructuring of the national disaster funds utilization, its chairman N.K. Singh said on Monday.
California wildfire grows near Yosemite National Park
The fire threatening Yosemite National Park in California raged through the weekend, growing in size to nearly 34,000 acres, authorities said today. "Weather forecasts are calling for hotter and drier air throughout the week as conditions align for critical and extreme fire weather in the coming days," InciWeb, an inter-agency incident reporting site, said. InciWeb said the so-called Ferguson fire was 13 percent contained, an improvement over Friday when it was only seven percent contained. Two DC-10 tanker planes and 46 helicopters have been used to slow the spread of the fire, while firefighters on the ground were working with heavy equipment to protect Yosemite National Park, which is east of the fire. Yosemite, a popular tourist destination, remains open. But several areas nearby are under mandatory evacuation orders, InciWeb said. Since the fire broke out in the Sierra Nevada mountains July 13 a 36-year-old firefighter has died and six others have been injured.
Sachin to bat for WR campaign on trespassing, women's safety
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has become the face of the Western Railway's campaign on checking trespassing, women's safety and cleanliness. The Western Railway (WR) today made an announcement in this regard. This comes weeks after the Central Railway roped in megastar Amitabh Bachchan as the face of its anti- trespassing campaign. Trespassing on railway tracks is a major cause of deaths on the Mumbai suburban rail network, considered the lifeline of the metropolis. The WR said Tendulkar has provided his valuable views and messages for social awareness regarding women safety, trespassing and cleanliness for its passengers. After becoming the face of the Western Railway, the 45 -year-old Bharat Ratna awardee will sensitise passengers on issues like trespassing, women safety and cleanliness. In the past, the WR has conducted a series of awareness campaigns by roping in celebrities like Jackie Shroff, Daljit Dosanjh, Zoya Akhtar and John Abraham, among others. WR chief ...
Massive fire breaks out at Ayodhya railway station
A massive fire broke out at the Ayodhya railway station today, damaging various electrical gadgets and CCTV cameras installed at its platform one and affecting the movement of trains on the route, said officials. No casualty, however, was reported due to the fire, which broke out early today between 1 am and 2 am, they said. The fire, which started with a blast apparently due to a short circuit at a book stall on the platform, spread so rapidly and turned so massive that it took over an hour for several fire brigade vehicles to douse the flame, they said. At one point of time, the flames threatened to engulf the entire platform one and reach the Mankapur-Faizabad passenger train standing there, prompting us to evacuate the platform and rush the train for onward journey, Railway Protection Force in-charge Ashok Kumar Singh told PTI at Ayodhya railway station. "The fire broke out with a big blast and first caught the book stall and a general store shop at platform number one, the reason
Chennai: Air India plane suffers bird hit while landing
A Chennai-bound Air India flight from Singapore suffered a bird hit while landing today.There were 230 passengers on board when the accident took place.Reportedly, following the bird hit the authorities have cancelled its return flight.The plane's nose was damaged in the incident.The plane suffered the bird hit while it was 400 feet above the ground near Chennai airport.
Road network in Hry to be further strengthened: PWD Minister
Road network in Haryana would be further strengthened with the construction of two greenfield National Highways, three bridges on the Yamuna river and, Railway over Bridges (RoBs) and Railway under Bridges (RuBs), state minister Rao Narbir Singh said today. The Public Works (Buildings and Roads) minister said three bridges are being constructed on the Yamuna river at Jatrana near Radaur, at Hathwala near Panipat and at Manwali in Faridabad at a cost of Rs 125 crore each. He said construction of 63 Railway over Bridges (RoBs) or Railway under Bridges (RuBs) of has been initiated and there is a proposal to begin work on 63 other railway crossings in the near future. "Out of the total 592 manned railway crossings in the state, the present BJP government has either constructed RoBs/RuBs or prepared proposals for it to give a new look to the road network of the state," Singh told reporters here, adding the state government would make Haryana free of any unmanned railway crossings by ...
3 killed in landslide in Nepal
At least three people were killed when a landslide triggered by incessant rains buried a shed in eastern Nepal's Rolpa district. The victims were sleeping inside the shed last night when the landslide buried it. Rescue works could not be carried out immediately as the shed was far from the rural municipality office. The villagers pulled out the bodies, police said. The deceased were identified as 18-year-old Chameli Pun, 12-year-old Obi Gharti and 18-year-old Hume Gharti.
Gujarat asks FinComm to hike state share in central tax pool to over 50%
Gujarat has asked the 15th Finance Commission to increase devolution of central tax revenues to states to over 50 per cent, from 42 per cent at present. The Commission, led by N K Singh, felt that the state has made rapid progress in key macro economic parameters, but GST remains one of the big challenges. The state government, on its part, has urges the Commission to increase devolution to over 50 per cent, expand the net divisible pool, and suggested an alternative formula for devolution based on urbanisation and social deprivation, an official statement said. Gujarat is improving its expenditure in health and education areas which deserve fuller attention over the coming years, Singh mentioned. "Gujarat has shown the lead in achieving more balanced development among primary, secondary and tertiary sectors," he said. Of the challenges being faced by Gujarat GST collections. "Once the 14 per cent guarantee as GST compensation by the union Government winds up, Gujarat will need to ...
Youth killed, another injured in accident during police chase
A young man was killed and his pillion rider injured in an accident during a police chase, following which his family, neighbours and friends on Monday protested outside a police station in the city.