Page 767 - Disaster Accident
NDMA reviews preparedness of states to counter heat wave
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has conducted a meeting with 17 heat wave-prone states to review their preparedness and mitigation measures.In view of the recent incidents of thunderstorm and lightning, preparedness measures relating to these hazards were also assessed.In the meeting conducted through video conference, NDMA member R. K. Jain, Member, has requested the states to run extensive public awareness campaigns in local languages to educate people about the simple ways of mitigating the impact of heat waves and lightning.He also asked the states to work on developing thresholds at local levels and ensure wider dissemination of early warnings.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has informed that besides the regular five-day forecasts, it now comes out with a special heat bulletin at 0730 hours to help people plan their day accordingly.A detailed review of the preparedness of the States in terms of having Heat Action Plans up to the district level, ...
Mid-air collision averted between IndiGo-Air Deccan planes
The country's civil aviation regulator DGCA is said to be investigating a May 2 incident, when two aircraft belonging to IndiGo and Air Deccan flew in close proximity to each other over Bangladesh's airspace.
Takata's defective air bags linked to 278 injuries in U.S. - Senator
(Reuters) - Takata Corp's defective air bags have been linked to 278 injuries across the United States, according to updated figures released by U.S. Democratic Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, in advance of a hearing next week on the nomination of Heidi King to head the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Volkswagen to recall 411,000 cars over rear seatbelt problem
BERLIN/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German carmaker Volkswagen AG will recall about 220,000 of its new Polo vehicles in the coming weeks due to a problem with the rear seatbelt lock, it said on Friday, adding 191,000 cars of its Spanish unit Seat were also affected.
Fire in Kolkata building, no injuries
A fire broke out in a multi-storey building in central Kolkata on Friday evening, though no injuries were reported, a fire official said.
Eight dead in rickshaw-tanker collision near Aurangabad,
Eight persons including a woman were killed on the spot and two others sustained serious injuries when the six-seater rickshaw in which they were travelling collided with a water tanker near Aurangabad in Maharashtra today. The accident took place near Georai Tanda village near Banjara hotel this evening, police said. The two injured persons were admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here. The rickshaw was speeding and trying to overtake another vehicle when it collided with the tanker coming from the opposite direction, police said. The deceased were yet to be identified, police said, adding that further probe was on.
Thunderstorms damage banana, spices crops in Kerala; hit mango fruits in UP
Banana and spices crops are reported to have been damaged in Kerala, while up to 20 per cent mango fruits have fallen off in Uttar Pradesh due to thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds last week, Agriculture Secretary S K Pattanayak said today. The Union Agriculture Ministry is closely monitoring the developments and is in touch with state governments which are in the process of assessing the extent of damage, he added. "We are yet to receive a full report from the state governments. We are reviewing the situation on a daily basis," Pattanayak told PTI. Barring Kerala, there have been no reports of significant crop damage from states such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana, he said. In Uttar Pradesh, there are reports that 10-20 per cent mangoes have fallen off because of gusty winds. Whereas in Kerala, banana and spices crops have been affected badly, he added.
Nine killed in TN road accident
Nine persons were killed on Friday in a collision between two vehicles in Perambalur district in Tamil Nadu, police said.
No flight from Chandigarh airport from May 12-31
No flight will operate from the Chandigarh International Airport here between May 12 and 31, when the second phase of the runway repair will be taken up. After the completion of the second phase of runway re-carpeting/repair work, the runway length will increase to 10,400 feet from earlier 7,200 feet. This upgradation would facilitate long haul flights from Chandigarh to destinations like USA, Canada, Europe, UK and other places, a spokesman of the Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL) said today. "During this period, no flight will operate from Chandigarh. There will not be any further closure after May 31, 2018," he said. The first phase of the runway repair was carried out from February 12 to 26. For past over six months, the flights have remained suspended every Sunday. According to the spokesperson, this will change from July 1. "From July 1, on Sundays, the flights will operate between 1 pm to 6:30 pm," he said.
Special heat wave bulletins to be given to 17 states every day
Seventeen heat wave-prone states will be provided special heat bulletins every morning, besides the regular five-day forecasts, so that people can reschedule their work, arrange drinking water and other necessary items, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said today. This was conveyed to the states during a meeting, conducted through video conference, today. According to an official release, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that besides the regular five-day forecasts, it will come out with special heat bulletins at 0730 hours to help people plan their day accordingly. The NDMA took stock of the states' preparedness and mitigation measures in view of the recent incidents of thunderstorm and lightning. Preparedness measures relating to these hazards were also assessed. A detailed review of the preparedness of the states in terms of action plans up to the district levels for providing shelter, drinking water and rescheduling work timings to avoid peak ...
Boat ferrying 80 passengers catches fire, all passengers safe
A boat carrying 80 passengers caught fire near Veeravarapu Lanka village in West Godavari district, in Andhra Pradesh.Veeravarapu Lanka villagers swam to the boat and rescued the tourists.Officials and police in the area were immediately rushed to the spot.Though all passengers have been safely rescued, some suffered minor injuries and were provided medical aid.Police said that investigation is underway in the case, and that they suspect that short circuit in the generator as the cause of fire.
Five dead in hotel blast in Peshawar
Five members of the same family were killed and two were seriously injured in a blast at a hotel in Bilal Town on Pakistan's GT Road, Peshawar.As reported by The Tribune, a team of police and rescue officials visited the locations. Further, a bomb squad was also rushed to the site.The blast occurred on the fourth floor of the hotel in room number 408.Several cars parked in the parking lot were damaged.The deceased and the injured were rushed to the hospital.Further, the cause of the blast is not yet known.
Narrow escape for 120 tourists as Andhra boat catches fire
At least 120 tourists had a narrow escape when a boat caught fire on the Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district on Friday, police said.
Narrow escape for 80 tourists as boat catches fire
Over 80 tourists on a river cruise had a miraculous escape after fire broke out in the boat they were travelling en route to a tourist spot in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh today, police said. A gas leak in the boat's kitchen while tea was being prepared was said to have caused the fire, police said. The passengers jumped to safety from the double-decker boat minutes before the fire engulfed it after the boat driver managed to steer the vessel close to a tiny island in the Godaviri river close to Veeravarapu Lanka, a passenger said. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu spoke to East Godavari district collector Kartikeya Misra and directed him to ensure that the tourists were safely sent back home. According to Durga Prasad, a passenger, the boat set off from Posammagudi village for the picturesque Papikondalu, a tourist spot, and breakfast was served around 9 am. Passengers suddenly realised that smoke was coming out from the lower deck, he said. The driver of ...
Fresh bout of storm 'very likely' in parts of UP
Thunderstorms and dust storms are "very likely" at isolated places in Uttar Pradesh tomorrow, the Met office warned as the state recovers from a storm earlier this week which killed 18 people. On Wednesday, five people died in Etawah district, three each in Mathura, Aligarh and Agra, two in Firozabad and one each in Hathras and Kanpur Dehat. Twenty-seven others were injured. Earlier, on May 2-3, a storm killed 134 people and injured over 400 in five states. Uttar Pradesh then bore the brunt with 80 deaths, most of them in Agra district. A Met office spokesperson said today that the forecast for tomorrow is rain, thunderstorms and dust storms, with gusty winds at isolated places. The state government has given families of those killed in Wednesday's storm Rs 4 lakh each as compensation. The loss to farmers not covered by the crop insurance scheme is being estimated. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had directed officials to speed up relief operations. Ministers-in-charge and district ...
India's thermal coal imports rise over 15 percent in first quarter: trader
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's thermal coal imports rose by more than 15 percent in the first three months of 2018, with Indonesia accounting for about three-fifths of total supplies, according to vessel arrival data from Dubai-based coal trader American Fuels & Natural Resources.
Japan councils appeal tsunami death compensation rulings
Two local governments have appealed to Japan's top court, challenging rulings that awarded millions of dollars in compensation to families whose children were swept out to sea in a 2011 tsunami. In late April, the Sendai High Court upheld a district court judgement ordering the two local governments to pay a combined 1.43 billion yen (USD 13.7 million) to families of 23 children who were killed in the disaster. The victims, from the public Okawa Elementary School in the city of Ishinomaki, were among a total of 74 children who perished in rising waters after being told to wait for more than 40 minutes in school grounds with teachers, 10 of whom also died. Yesterday, the local governments appealed against the latest compensation ruling before the Supreme Court, an official with Ishinomaki city's education board told AFP. "It's nearly impossible for the principal and other teachers, who are not anti-disaster experts, to predict a tsunami," Masato Chiba said. The plaintiffs argue that ...
4 killed in truck-jeep collision
Four people were killed and two others injured in a head-on collision between a jeep and a truck in Rajasthan's Bhilwara district today, police said. According to Jahazpur police station, the accident occurred near Bhawanipur village. Bodies were yet to be identified and are kept at a mortuary for post-mortem examination. A case has been registered against the truck driver and investigations are underway.
Hawaii volcano could be building up to big eruption: scientists
A Hawaii volcano that has been oozing lava and burping steam for days may be gearing up for a huge eruption, scientists have warned, prompting the closure of Volcanoes National Park today. It is the newest threat from the Kilauea volcano, which began erupting last Thursday on the US state's Big Island, the National Park Service said. Scientists say lava levels in the crater are going down, meaning it might be clogging and building up for a mighty blast. Movement of the molten rock opened space for lava at the summit to drain underground, reducing the height of a lava lake at the summit, US Geological Survey geophysicist Ingrid Johanson told the Los Angeles Times. But as the lava lake levels fall below the groundwater table, water can start interacting with the magma, heating it up and creating steam, said USGS scientist Donald Swanson. And if rocks fall from the walls surrounding the magma in the volcano, the rocks can form a dam. And then, if the steam builds pressure, "it can ...
Indonesian volcano erupts, sparking evacuations
Indonesian villagers living in the shadow of one of the world's most active volcanoes fled to safety today as the crater erupted, sending a cascade of ash and smoke some 5,000 metres (16,400 feet) into the sky. The government ordered residents living within a five-kilometre (three-mile) radius of Mount Merapi on Java island to leave as ash covered surrounding communities and even reached parts of Yogyakarta, Indonesia's cultural capital some 30 kms away. Officials have shuttered the city's international airport with eight flights cancelled following the early morning eruption, which began about 7:30 am local time. It was not clear how many residents living around Merapi had left for local shelters, but around 12,000 people live in its immediate vicinity. Some 120 people who were hiking on the mountain when the eruption happened are safe, the government said. Merapi previously erupted in 2010, forcing 280,000 people to flee and killing more than 300 in what is considered its most ...