Page 699 - Disaster Accident
Delhi: Massive fire breaks out in plastic godown
A massive fire broke out in a plastic godown in Amar Colony located in Nangloi's Kamruddin Nagar on Monday night.The incident took place at around 11 p.m.The reason behind the fire is yet to be ascertained.A total of twenty-five fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the fire.No casualties have been reported.Further details are awaited.Earlier in January 20, a major fire broke out in a plastic godown of Bawana industrial area killing at least 17 people and injuring many others.
Dornier deployed as smoke billows out of ill-fated ship
With smoke continuing to emanate from the merchant vessel MV SSL Kolkata, which was devastated by a raging fire in the Bay of Bengal on June 14, a Dornier helicopter of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was deployed on Monday evening to carry out a visual assessment of the situation, according to a Defence Ministry spokesperson.
14 dead in Assam as flood fury continues
At least 14 people have lost their lives in flash floods and rainfall-induced landslides in Assam's Hailakandi and Hojai districts.The devastating floods, heavy rains and landslides have created havoc in several northeastern states in the past week, claiming many lives in Assam, Tripura and Manipur.According to media reports, a population of 5, 48,983 in the districts of Nagaon, Hojai, Golaghat, Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj have been affected by the flood.Karimganj district is the worst hit with the Kushiara, Barak and Longai rivers maintaining a rising trend.Yesterday, a total of eight tons relief material was provided in the flood-affected areas of Tripura's Kailashahar and Assam's Hailakandi area by the Indian Air Force.According to the Central Water Commission, the water level of river Brahmaputra is increasing by 4-5 cms per hour and will soon touch the danger level in the next 2-3days.The power supply has been also affected in many areas. Educational institutes and ...
Central Water Commission to use Google technology to forecast floods
The Central Water Commission (CWC) has entered into an agreement with Google to improve flood forecast systems and disseminate flood-related information by using technology developed by the tech giant. "The initiative is likely to help crisis management agencies to deal extreme hydrological events in a better manner. Under this agreement, the CWC and Google will share technical expertise in various fields, including geospatial mapping and analysis of hydrological observation data," the Water Resources Ministry said in an official statement. The CWC, which is an apex technical organisation in the field of water resources, will use Google technology to improve flood prediction systems and will also use tech giant's earth engine to visualise and improve flood management. Water Resources minister Nitin Gadkari also expressed hope that the collaboration with Google will help in effective flood management in India. This initiative on flood forecast is likely to meet the much-awaited demand .
Rajnath on Mongolia trip from Thursday
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is to visit Mongolia to attend a two-day official programme aimed at enhancing India's alliance with the country, bordered by China and Russia.
4 killed, 11 injured in truck-tempo collision in UP
At least four persons, including a minor, were today killed and 11 others injured when a truck collided with a tempo in the neighbouring Maharajganj district, officials said. The incident took place on the Maharajganj-Pharenda road at 4.00 pm, they said. Four persons died and 11 others were injured in the accident after the truck collided with a tempo, carrying 15 persons. Police have arrested the truck driver, Amarnath Upadhayay, district magistrate of Maharajganj, said The deceased have been identified as Radhika (40), Mahima (6) and Chirkut (50). The fourth deceased is said to be a man aged around 40 years, the officials said. The injured were admitted to a district hospital from where they were referred to the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur.
ody of victim of Kattipara landslide recovered
The body of a woman, who went missing after a landslide struck the hilly region of Kattipara at Thamaraserry following heavy rains, was recovered today, taking the toll there to 14. With this, the last of the bodies has been recovered from the rubble under the landslide, official sources said. The body of the victim, identified as Nafeesa (55), was handed over to her relatives, official sources said. The bodies of her husband Abdur Rahiman, son Jaffer and Jaffer's son Muhammed Jasim have already been recovered. Earlier in the day, the Kerala government had said a probe would be conducted to ascertain whether a private check dam atop a hill was the cause of the massive landslide that struck Kattipara in Kozhikode district, leading to the deaths. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the state assembly that a panel had been constituted and it would soon submit a report on whether the collapse of the check dam had caused the destruction in the region. Incessant rains have
Barring Assam, flood situation in NE improving; death toll rises to 25
The overall flood situation in the north-east continued to improve today, except in Assam, where two more persons died, taking the death toll due to flood-related incidents in the region to 25, officials said. While the water level in the rivers of Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur are receding, it is maintaining a rising trend in the six affected districts of Assam. Two persons died in Cachar and Hailakandi districts in Barak Valley of Assam since yesterday, taking the death toll in the state to 14, according to a report issued by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) today. A population of 5,48,983 in the districts of Nagaon, Hojai, Golaghat, Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj have been affected by the flood. Karimganj district is the worst hit with the Kushiara, Barak and Longai rivers maintaining a rising trend. A total of 2,34,664 people are affected in the district, the report said. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had directed the Karimganj district authorities to ...
Situation of SSL Kolkata being monitored continuously: Govt
The Directorate General of Shipping is continuously monitoring the situation and providing guidance to secure merchant ship SSL Kolkata, which suffered an explosion last week, the government said today. No loss of life has been reported due to the fire on the ship, it said in a statement. A global salvage company - Smith International, Singapore - has been engaged to rescue the ship. "The Directorate General of Shipping is continuously monitoring the situation and providing guidance for securing the estranged ship SSL Kolkata near West Bengal coast, 10 miles away from the Sundarbans. Internationally renowned salvage company Smith International, Singapore - has been engaged for salvaging the ship," Ministry of Shipping said in the statement. However, salvage operations are held up due to adverse weather and sea conditions, it said, adding that the salvers have reached Kolkota and the operation will commence once the weather condition improves. The communication centre of the ...
Two farmers die as wall collapses
Two farmers, Sadik (40) and Farman (35) were killed and another person injured when a tubewell wall collapsed on them in a village in this district, police said. According to Circle Officer Rizwan Ahmad, the incident took place when the victims were digging. The three were rushed to a hospital where two of them were declared dead, he said.
Smoke seen emanating from container ship
A container ship was still seen emitting smoke today despite an Indian Air Force chopper having put off its fire yesterday, a Defence official said. The smoke was seen billowing out of MV SSL Kolkata today during a visual recce by the Coast Guard aircraft, he added. "A recce by a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft this morning revealed that smoke continues to emanate though there is no visible flame," Defence spokesperson Wing Commander S S Birdi said. The Coast Guard has again flown a Dornier aircraft to carry out a visual assessment of the situation on the ship this evening, which was anchored about 8 nautical miles from Sunderbans. An Air Force Mi-17 helicopter has been stationed at Frazerganj harbour helipad, the nearest possible location to the vessel "in case there is a requirement to once again carry out the dousing operations," he said. A Coast Guard spokesperson said "no oil spill has been observed around the vessel." The spokesperson said the Coast Guard ships are maintaining
Assam flood toll is 11, over 5 lakh affected
The flood fury continued in Assam on Monday with two more deaths reported from Barak Valley, taking the flood-related death toll to 11, even as over five lakh people were affected in six districts.
Kumaraswamy writes to Rajnath Singh; seeks SDRF revision
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today sought revision of State Disaster Response Fund allocation fromthe union government for undertaking relief measures in thestate. Kumaraswamy, in a letter written to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, sought increase in Karnataka's SDRF allocation, which, he said, was less compared to that granted to states likeMaharashtra and Gujarat. "As far as the SDRF allocation is concerned, Karnataka has been allocated only Rs 1,527 crore for the five year period from 2015-16 to 2019-20," the Chief Minister said. "Other states such as Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have been allocated Rs 8,195 crore, Rs 6,094crore and Rs 4,847 crore and Rs 3,394 crore respectively. Hence, the state Government had requested for enhancement of SDRF allocation to Rs 3,050.72 crore," he added. Kumaraswamy also said the Union Government should make appropriate recommendation to the 15th Finance Commission to base SDRF allocation on hazard
One dead and dozens missing in Indonesia boat accident: disaster agency
At least one person has died and dozens are missing after a boat carrying 80 people capsized today in Indonesia, an official from the national disaster agency said. The vessel overturned in Lake Toba in the province of North Sumatra, more than 1,300 km north west of the capital Jakarta. "Six passengers have been rescued, one is dead," said national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. Authorities have deployed rescue vessels and the search is ongoing, but bad weather is hindering the operation. Muslim-majority Indonesia has been celebrating the Islamic festival of Eid since Friday and millions go on holiday during the festivities, with Lake Toba a popular tourist destination. The sinking is the latest in a string of deadly maritime accidents in the vast Indonesian archipelago, which relies heavily on boats to ferry people around its 17,000 islands but has a poor safety record. Last week, a traditional wooden boat with about 40 people capsized in the island of Sulawesi, ...
Fire breaks out at Meerut chemical factory
A fire broke out at a chemical factory in Meerut's Partapur area.10 fire tenders rushed to the spot to douse the flames. The situation is under control.The reason for the fire is still unknown.Partapur area of Meerut has become a stronghold of illegal factories, due to which fire incidents happen in day-to-day factories.
Kumaraswamy seeks more disaster funds for K'taka
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh appealing for higher allocation of funds for drought relief in the state.In a letter to the Home Minister, Kumaraswamy requested a revision of the Centre-approved funds worth Rs 1, 527 crore for Karnataka's State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), as it is only a fraction of what several other states."Karnataka State is prone to natural disasters like drought, flood, hailstorm, excessive rainfall, lightening etc. In the past 17 years, state has faced 13 droughts of varied intensity. As far as the SDRF allocation is concerned, Karnataka has been allocated only Rs.1, 527 crore for five year period from 2015-16 to 2019-20," the letter read."Other states such as Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have been allocated Rs.8,195 crore, Rs.6094 crore and Rs.4847 crore and Rs.3394 crore respectively. Hence, State Government had requested for enhancement of SDRF allocation to Rs.3, ...
Flood situation in Tripura improves
The overall flood situation in Tripura has improved with water level in all major rivers flowing below the danger level, officials said. "Work for the distribution of relief materials, food and medicines is in full swing. We are keeping a close watch on the situation," D Darlong, district Magistrate of Unakoti which is the worst-affected, said over phone from Kailashahar. Over 72,000 people are still staying in relief camps in Unakoti district, he said. Chief Public Relations Officer of the Northeast Frontier Railway, P J Sharma said train services have been restored in the Lumding-Badarpur hill section but some portions of railway track are still under flood water in between Badarpur-Silchar and Manu-Ambassa-Agartala affecting passenger train services. The Badarpur-Silchar section in Assam and Manu-Ambassa-Agartala section in Tripura remained suspended since Jun 13 due to landslips at several locations, he said. Three pairs of passenger trains - Agartala-Silchar, ...
Kremlin relieved that no fatalities in Moscow taxi crash
A Kremlin spokesman says the Russian government is relieved that nobody died in a weekend taxi crash in Moscow that injured two Mexican soccer fans and six other pedestrians. A taxi veered onto the sidewalk near Red Square on Saturday, striking pedestrians. The man identified as the taxi driver later told interrogators that he hadn't slept for 20 hours and accelerated accidentally. Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that "we breathed a sigh of relief" upon learning that there were no fatalities. He wished the injured a speedy recovery. City authorities identified the driver as a 28-year-old man from Kyrgyzstan. Russia is hosting the World Cup in Moscow and 10 other cities.
No Indian casualty in Osaka earthquake: Swaraj
There is no report of any Indian casualty in the 6.1-magnitude earthquake that rattled the city of Osaka in Japan early on Monday.External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted to inform that she was constantly in touch with the Indian Ambassador in Japan."Japan earthquake: I am in constant touch with Indian Ambassador in Japan @IndianEmbTokyo. He has informed me that there no Indian casualty. We have given the helpline numbers. In case of emergency, @IndianConsOsaka is there to help you," Swaraj tweeted.Swaraj also re-tweeted a message from 'India in Osaka,' which provided some emergency numbers to contact in case of any distress.At least three people, including a nine-year-old girl, lost their lives in the earthquake that also led to massive collateral damages.The earthquake did not trigger a tsunami warning and the nuclear plants in the area are operating normally.
Rain, thunderstorm 'very likely' in parts of UP tomorrow
Rain or thunderstorm is very likely at isolated places in Uttar Pradesh tomorrow, the meteorological department said today. A thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds is very likely at isolated places in eastern Uttar Pradesh tomorrow, while some parts will experience heat wave conditions, the Met department said. A thunderstorm accompanied with squall is very likely at isolated parts of western Uttar Pradesh tomorrow, it said. The Met department added that rain or thunderstorm is very likely at isolated places in east Uttar Pradesh on June 20 and 21 as well. Rain or thunderstorm is also very likely at isolated places in west Uttar Pradesh on June 20, followed by a dry weather on June 21, it said. On Sunday, the day temperatures were above normal in Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Faizabad and Kanpur divisions.