Page 678 - Disaster Accident
16 killed, 15 injured in Libya in June: UN
Tunis, July 2 (IANS/AKI) A total of 16 people including three children were killed at 15 injured in Libya in June, the United Nations support mission to the conflict-wracked country said on Monday.
'Dead' S.African woman found alive in mortuary fridge
A South African woman who paramedics had declared dead after a horrific car crash was later found alive in a mortuary fridge, emergency services said today. Ambulance service Distress Alert confirmed that the unnamed woman had been certified dead by paramedics at the scene of the pile-up outside of Carletonville, southwest of Johannesburg, in the early hours of June 24. Mortuary technicians then found her alive in a morgue fridge several hours after the crash in which the victims' car rolled, throwing all three occupants clear of the vehicle, killing two of them. "We followed our procedures -- we've got no idea how it happened," Distress Alert operations manager Gerrit Bradnick told AFP. "The crew is absolutely devastated -- we're not in the business of declaring living people dead, we're in the business of keeping people alive." The woman, who was taken to Carletonville hospital after being found alive in the mortuary, had shown no signs of life when she was attended to by first ...
Heavy rains: 24 flights diverted from Delhi
As many as 24 incoming flights were diverted from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here on Monday evening following heavy rains, officials said.
Thai rescuers locate missing boys and coach alive in cave
Rescuers located 12 boys and their soccer coach alive deep inside a partially flooded cave in northern Thailand late today, more than a week after they went missing, bringing hope in a desperate search that has attracted international help and captivated the nation. Chiang Rai provincial Gov Narongsak Osatanakorn said the 13 were in the process of being rescued, but he cautioned that they were not out of peril yet. "We found them safe. But the operation isn't over," he said in comments broadcast nationwide. Rescue divers had spent much of Monday making preparations for a final push to locate the lost soccer players, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach. They disappeared when flooding trapped them after entering the Tham Luang Nang Non cave on June 23. Thai navy SEAL divers and rescue workers from other countries made initial progress through the narrow passageway early Monday after passing through a key chamber on Sunday whose high, murky waters had previously blocked their ...
150 stranded tourist in HP's Kangra district rescued
Around 150 tourist who were stranded at a paragliding site in Himachal Pradesh's Baijnath sub-division of Kangra district following a landslide, have been rescued, an official spokesperson said. The tourist were stranded at at Bir-Billing after a landslide on Sunday night, he said. The rescue work continued till 3 pm today. The tourists were rescued and taken to safer places under the supervision of Baijnath sub-divisional magistrate Vikas Shukla, the spokesperson said.
290 pilgrims from Karnataka stranded in Nepal due to rain:Govt
Around 290 pilgrims on a Kailash Manasrova yatra from Karnatka are stranded in Nepal due to heavy rains, the state government today said and sent an "SOS" to the Indian Embassy in the Himalayan nation seeking help. #SOS Around 290 #Kailash Manasarova Yatra Pilgrims from Karnataka stranded in #Simikot #Nepal due to heavy rain in Himalayan region, @IndiaInNepal kindly do the needful, State Emergency Operation Centre, Revenue Department (Disaster Management) said in a tweet. The pilgrims were even said to be facing shortage of food, officials said here.
Seven die in Nepal floods, landslide
At least seven persons were killed and several others injured across Nepal due to floods and landslides in the wake of incessant rains in the last 24 hours, officials said on Monday.
Maneka writes to Gadkari on norms for women's safety in cabs
In view rising cases of misbehaviour by taxi drivers with women passengers, Minister for Women and Child Development (WCD) Maneka Gandhi on Monday wrote to Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari urging steps to ensure that cab safety guidelines are adhered to.
Karnataka Governor lists out plan for Benglauru's integrated development
The JD-S-Congress coalition government in Karnataka is striving to work towards integrated development of Bengaluru, Governor Vajubhai R. Vala said on Monday.
One dead, 18 missing after migrant boat capsizes off Malaysia
One person died and 18 others were missing after a boat carrying dozens of Indonesian illegal migrants capsized in the South China Sea off the Malaysian coast, officials said today. The boat with 44 people on board capsized yesterday night off the southern state of Johor as it headed for Malaysia from the Indonesian island of Batam. Senior coast guard official Sanifah Yusof said a woman was found drowned while another 25 people were rescued by the authorities. "There are 18 people left (missing), we are still doing the search and rescue," he told AFP. Sanifah believed the boat was overloaded and ran into bad weather. A coast guard statement said nearly 150 officers from various government agencies with seven boats and ships as well as a helicopter were searching an area of 150 square nautical miles. Indonesian illegal migrants often make a perilous journey in small rickety boats to Malaysia in search of work, mainly in construction and agriculture. More than a dozen Indonesians died ..
FSSAI in talks with industry to convert used-cooking oil into bio-diesel
Food regulator FSSAI today said it is in discussion with the Indian Biodiesel Association for setting up of an ecosystem for collection of used-cooking oil and its conversion into bio-diesel. Small quantities of used-cooking oil is already being collected from food businesses either through a barter arrangement or at cost, but there is a huge scope for expanding this ecosystem, it said in a statement. "Annually, about 23 million tonnes of cooking oil is consumed in India. There is potential to recover and use about 3 million tonnes of this for production of bio-diesel," Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said. This will have an estimated value of Rs 18,000 crore per year, it said, and added used-cooking oil is viewed as the most reasonable and advisable feedstock for biodiesel production. Bio-diesel is non-poisonous and biodegradable fuel with better burning emission profile and high flash point therefore easy to transport. "Thus, time is right for India now to take .
DGCA issues draft norms for obtaining ATCO license, ratings
Aviation regulator DGCA has issued draft norms for obtaining an air traffic controller's license and ratings as it prepares for an FAA audit later this month. The UN aviation watchdog, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), had in its audit last November suggested the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) should be the licensing authority for the air traffic controller (ATCO) just the way it is for the pilots. ATC is a part of the air traffic management (ATM) wing of the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Though these ATC personnel get ratings through a written and oral exam, conducted by the AAI, they do not come under the licence category of workforce like pilots and cabin crew. "An air traffic controller's licence (ATCOL) shall be valid for maximum period of five years from the date of issue and may be renewed for a further period of five years on each occasion," as per the draft civil aviation requirement (CAR). "An applicant who meets the ...
Indian woman dies of altitude sickness in Nepal
An Indian woman has died of high altitude sickness in Nepal after returning from Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage in Tibet, according to a media report. Leela Mahendra Narayan, 56, of Kerala died in Simikot of Humla district yesterday, Kathmandu Post reported. According to Sub Inspector of Police at Simikot Airport, Narayan died of decreased level of oxygen in her body. Her dead body is still at the Simikot Airport as the flights have been disrupted since June 31 following the bad weather. Around 400 passengers, including Indian tourists, are stranded at the Airport while around 150 passengers are stranded at Kohilsa check point in Simikot, according to the Civil Aviation Office, Simikot.
SC seeks AG's assistance on plea for cashless treatment for road accident victims
The Supreme Court today sought assistance of Attorney General K K Venugopal to deal with a plea seeking cashless treatment for road accident victims. The plea came up for hearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra which said that a copy of the petition be served on the office of AG to assist the court. "As we understand, the submission advanced by the counsel for the petitioner is that certain arrangements should be made by the Union of India as well as by the state governments so that some assistance can be rendered immediately, subject to certain guidelines which may also take into consideration the financial condition of the victim. "Let a copy of the petition be served on the office of the Attorney General for India to assist the court. List the matter on July 23," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said. The plea filed by Delhi resident Rakesh Kumar Singhal also sought direction to the Centre to issue appropriate orders to all .
Indian Mansarovar pilgrim dies in Nepal
An Indian woman who was returning after pilgrimage in Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet died of altitude sickness in Simikot of Nepal's Humla district on Monday.
Road safety to be part of Goa school curriculum: Minister
The Goa government has decided to include road safety in the school curriculum from the first to ninth standard from August 1 this year, state Transport Director Nikhil Desai said today. He said that it would be introduced in hundred aided and government run schools and claimed that Goa was one of the first states in the country to do so. Desai was speaking to reporters after the State Road Safety Council meeting. He informed that it was decided, during the meeting, to act against vehicles carrying school children without authorisation. A total of 57 accident spots on highways would also be rectified by the Public Works Department, he said. Steps taken to reduce road accident fatalities and infrastructure required to enforce road safety measures was reviewed in the meeting, he said. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had said last year that road safety and garbage management would be included in the state's school curriculum.
Man shot dead in road rage in Ghaziabad
A person was shot dead in an incident of road rage in Ghaziabad, police said on Monday.
Palghar fisherman to get maritime search and rescue award
A fisherman from adjoining Palghar district, who saved 12 people from a sinking boat, has been selected for a prestigious award in recognition of his search and rescue efforts. Milan Shankar Tare, a resident of Satapati village, will receive the National Maritime Search and Rescue Award, instituted by the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board. The award will be presented to Tare in New Delhi on July 5, a Coast Guard release said today. "The board recognises search and rescue efforts by merchant mariners, government vessels and fishermen every year," the release said. The Coast Guard praised Tare for his exemplary courage in saving a dozen people from a capsizing fishing boat nearly two months ago. "Tare saved the lives of 12 people from a sinking fishing boat Shivneri on May 9. Tare, who was fishing off the Satpati coast, heard distress calls from another fishing boat in the vicinity. "As it was still dark, Tare could not identify the exact location from where he ...
Vijay Group brings sky saver to India
Vijay Group, a leading manufacturer and exporter of passive fire protection systems is all set to launch a revolutionary life saving kit - Sky Saver in India. The Sky Saver backpack is a sturdy, durable, and comfortable Controlled Descent Device (CDD). This device allows you to safely and securely descend to safety.It is capable of securely lowering anyone to the ground who weighs between 66 and 264 pounds at a safe speed of three to six feet per second. It is incredibly durable, able to withstand heat, cold, oil, dust, and extreme tension.Speaking about the product, Mr. Rajesh Salot, Director-Owner, Vijay Group said, "Emergency rescue from sky-touchingbuilding may take a very long time or sometimes it may become more impossible. At this stage 'Sky Saver' can play a pivotal role in saving our lives. There was an immense amount of research and development put into its design and functionality. With this revolutionary backpack, we ensure your safety as well as your comfort as you are ...
Japan chemical plant explosion kills one
An explosion at a Japanese chemical plant has killed one person, officials said. At least a dozen people were injured after the incident at the facility in central Japan's Fukui prefecture, according to fire authorities. "A total of 12 people were sent to hospitals after the explosion, one died and another is seriously injured," a fire station official told AFP. Public broadcaster NHK said the plant manufactures pharmaceuticals and chemical agents, without specifying any further details. An image on NHK's website showed a hole on the plant's roof and some broken windows. Yellow smoke was reportedly seen billowing from the plant after the explosion but there was no immediate indication that chemicals were leaking from the facility.