Page 793 - Disaster Accident
Train rams into school van, kills 13 students (Roundup)
At least 13 students under 10 years were killed when a speeding train rammed into their school van at an unmanned rail crossing in Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh and halted only after dragging the mangled vehicle for some 100 metres.
Nitish expresses grief over Kushinagar mishap
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today expressed grief over the mishap in Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh, wherein 13 school children were killed this morning, and announced compensation to family members of two accident victims hailing from the state. Describing the mishap as tragic, Kumar prayed for succour to the bereaved family members and announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh, from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, to the next of the kin of two of the deceased from Bihar, an official release said here. The Chief Minister also hoped for speedy recovery of those who have sustained injuries in the collision between a train and a school bus, the release added.
Southwest Airlines says deadly engine explosion to hurt bookings
(Reuters) - Southwest Airlines Co on Thursday warned that fallout from a fatal mid-air explosion last week will weigh on second-quarter bookings, as investigators continued to probe the events that led to the first passenger death in the airline's history.
Woman dies, 23 injured as gas cylinder explodes in Ludhiana
A woman died while 23 persons were injured, some of them seriously, after a gas cylinder exploded in a labour colony in the Giaspura area here today, police said. Sunita Rani (40), who was badly burnt in the explosion, died in the CMC hospital here this evening. Vineet Jaison, spokesperson of the Christian Medical College and Hospital, said that she had suffered 100 per cent burn injuries. She was the wife of the house owner where the cylinder exploded after catching fire. Earlier, Assistant Commissioner of Police Dharmpal and Sub Divisional Magistrate (East) Amarjit Singh Bains had visited the incident spot. They said that the cooking gas cylinder caught fire. As the family, who was inside the house, and some neighbours tried to put out the flames, the cylinder exploded, causing injuries to those who had gathered around the spot. A portion of the building also collapsed. Bains said the injured included Ashok, his wife and a few women and children. The injured were admitted to ...
Unmanned crossings to be eliminated by Mar 2020, primary responsibility not with railways: Lohani
In the wake of an accident at an unmanned level crossing in which 13 children died, Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani today said all such crossings will be eliminated by March 2020, but asserted that the primary responsibility lies with road users and not with the railways. Thirteen children on their way to school were killed when a train rammed into their van at an unmanned railway crossing in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. Five others were injured as the Thawe-Kapatanganj passenger train hit the van carrying 25 people, mostly children between the ages of 8-10 years from Divine Public School, at 7 am. "We will eliminate all UMLCs (unmanned level crossings) by March 31, 2020," he said adding that till then, people need to be careful while crossing tracks. "There was no substitute to that. Railways cannot take any step that is completely foolproof against negligence," he added. Section 131 of the Motor Vehicles Act as well as Section 161 of The Railways Act have provisions on crossing .
Death toll from fire at Indonesian oil well rises to 22
The death toll from a fire at an unregulated oil well in Indonesia's Aceh province rose to 22 today following the deaths of four more victims, officials said. The head of the Aceh Disaster Mitigation Agency, Teuku Ahmad Dadek, said 37 people were still being treated at three hospitals, many with severe burns. The newly drilled well in Pasir Putih village in eastern Aceh district exploded into flames early yesterday when many people were trying to collect the gushing oil. Five nearby houses were engulfed by the inferno. Dadek said the fire was finally extinguished early today but that gas and a mixture of water and oil were continuing to spurt out. More than 50 families were evacuated from the area. Dadek said two people died at a hospital in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital, and two others died while being taken to hospitals. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman described the well as "traditional," likely meaning it had unclear ownership and was used by the local ...
Probe ordered into Kushinagar accident: Piyush Goyal
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that a probe has been ordered into the bus-train collision accident that claimed 13 lives in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar."I have been told the bus driver was driving with the headphones on and he did not listen when people tried to stop him at the unmanned level crossing. I have ordered a probe, only then will everything be clear."Goyal also assured that his Ministry would do everything to close all the remaining unmanned level crossings in the country."I spoke to the officials in the morning also, and now I am going to Rail Bhawan to take some final decisions," he added.Offering condolences to the families of the victims, Goyal said, "I pray to God that the children rest in peace and the families have the strength to bear the loss. May the injured recover soon."The accident took place after the school bus of Divine Public School, which was ferrying 20 school children collided with a passenger train at an unmanned crossing.Following the ...
3 shops, godown stocking paint, chemicals gutted in fire
A fire broke out today in a chemical factory in Jhotwara area of the city, gutting three shops and a godown behind them, said the city fire brigade officials. No one, however, was injured in the incident they said. Three shops and a godown behind them, all stocking paints and chemicals, were gutted in the fire which had broken out in the godown, they said, adding the flames were doused in time before spreading further. The immediate cause of fire was not known, they said, adding a probe is on to ascertain the cause of fire.
13 children killed as train hits school van
Thirteen children on their way to school were killed today when a train rammed into their van at an unmanned railway crossing in Kushinagar. Five others were injured as the Thawe-Kapatanganj passenger train hit the van carrying 25 people, mostly children from Divine Public School, at 7 am. Local people who rushed to the level crossing gate at Behpurva, about 50 km from Gorakhpur, saw blood-splattered bodies of children, aged between 8 and 10, with water bottles, school bags and books strewn around. The level crossing was described as 'unmanned', with no barrier to stop road traffic. But a 'gate mitra' (railway volunteer) was posted there. Some eyewitnesses said the driver, who is among the injured, tried to speed across the level crossing even when onlookers tried to draw his attention to the approaching train. One eyewitness said that the van then got stuck in the middle of the rail tracks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "deeply pained" over the accident action. "As I ..
Trauma care facilities being strengthened in govt hospitals near highways: Choubey
Noting that 55 accidents and 17 deaths take place every hour on Indian roads, Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey said today that trauma care facilities in government-run hospitals near highways were being strengthened to ensure prompt treatment of victims. He said his ministry was also implementing a national programme on trauma care with focus on improving pre-hospital and rehabilitative services for the injured. He was speaking after releasing a handbook on prevention of accidents and awareness of first-aid on the occasion of Road Safety Week. "He (Choubey) said that during the year 2016, 4,80,652 road accidents were reported, causing injury to 4,94,624 persons and claiming 1,50,785 lives in the country. "He observed that according to this statistics, 1,317 accidents take place in which 413 people die on Indian roads every day, which means 55 accidents and 17 deaths every hour," according to an official statement. The minister also emphasised the need for giving ...
Manufacturing of passenger aircraft in India a priority: Minister
Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday said that manufacturing of passenger aircraft and aviation equipment under the "Make in India" programme will be one of his top priorities.
Busy stretch in Kochi becomes Kerala's first horn-free zone
A busy road stretch in the city today became the first horn-free zone of Kerala. The stretch of the arterial M G Road between Madhava Pharmacy junction and Maharajas Metro Station was declared no-horn zone as Kerala observed 'no-horn day' today. The declaration was made by Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail Limited A P M Mohammed Hanish at a function here. The 'no-horn' initiative is being implemented with the cooperation of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Association of Otolaryngologists of India, National Initiative for Safe Sound, organisation of ENT surgeons, KMRL, city police and Motor Vehicle Department. This is a small step to create awareness among public about the noise pollution, the KMRL said. It said a recent study has found hearing problems for drivers of city service buses and taxi and auto drivers.
Train rams into school van, kills 13 students (Fourth Lead)
At least 13 students under 10 years were killed when a speeding train rammed into their school van at an unmanned rail crossing in Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh and halted only after dragging the mangled vehicle for some 100 metres.
Tax benefits, strong demand lift Southwest Air first quarter
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines Co reported an 18 percent increase in quarterly net profit on Thursday, as strong demand and changes to the U.S. corporate tax code boosted its bottom line.
Kushinagar: Train-van crash snuffs out 13 budding lives
Like any other day, it was not even seven in the morning when little Ragini and her brothers, Santosh and Ravi, waved to their parents and boarded their school van - only that this time they never reached the school. On way to the Divine Mission School, the bright yellow van tried to cross an unmanned railway crossing at Behpurva where it was crushed by a speeding Thawe-Kapataganj passenger train. Among the littered water bottles, school bags and books, lay the blood splattered bodies of seven-year-old Ragini, her brothers, and many of their schoolmates. Next to them was the mangled iron frame of the smashed school van. No worse tragedy could have struck Amarjeet, resident of Mishrouli and Ragini's father, or Hasan from Batrouli who lost two young daughters - Sazida and Tamanna or Mainuddin, a resident of Maihiharwa, who lost son Miraz and daughter Muskan in the accident. As the news of the accident spread at around 7 in the morning, many locals were still in their beds. Scores of ...
9 killed in Jharkhand road accidents
At least nine persons were killed in three separate road accidents in Jharkhand on Thursday, police said.
Kushinagar bus-train collision: Death toll reaches 13
Death toll in Kushinagar bus-train accident rose to 13.The accident took place after the school bus which was ferrying 20 school children collided with a passenger train at an unmanned crossing.It was later learned that the bus driver who had ear phones plugged in while driving the vehicle could not hear the sound of the train and hence failed to avoid the mishap.Students who were travelling in the vehicle are said to be from Divine Public School.The remaining, who suffered injuries were immediately shifted to the nearby hospital for treatment.During his hospital visit, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured that strict actions will be taken against the people responsible for the incident and also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs to the family of deceased.
Gadkari asks automakers to bring in safer designs to curb road accidents
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today asked automakers to work towards having safer designs and explore possibility of use of silicon in tyres as part of efforts to reduce road accidents. India Inc should encourage its members to adopt safe driving practices, the minister said. Gadkari also called for concerted efforts to minimise accidents on the pattern of South Korea, which has successfully reduced the number of accidents to 213 from 13,000 (annually) five years back. "Automobile makers should come forward in the initiative for reducing road crashes. There should be research and innovation," he said. "They can also explore the possibility of using silicon, if feasible, in tyres to minimise incidents like tyre bursts on highways like Yamuna Expressway due to increase in temperature," Gadkari said addressing an event on road safety. The road minister said vehicles should be designed in a way to prevent accidents, and truck bodies should have adequate safety features. He was addressing ..
Fire breaks out in aromatic chemicals unit near Mumbai
A major fire broke out after a blast at a chemicals factory in adjoining Raigad district today, a senior official said. Fire broke out at the factory of Privi Organics, which has two manufacturing plants in the MIDC area of Mahad, Raigad district collector Dr Vijay Suryawanshi told PTI. Privi Organics manufactures aromatic chemicals, the IAS officer said. There was a blast in one of the plants shortly after noon, Suryawanshi said. "The fire spread fast due to strong wind and engulfed the plant, spreading to a nearby industrial oil company," he added. There were no reports of any casualties, he said. Ten fire tenders from Mahad and adjoining areas were rushed to the site, he said. Water tankers, JCBs and dumpers with mud were also deployed, he said. The hydrogen tank in the Privi Organics plant was isolated to avoid a major mishap, Suryawanshi said.
Schoolgirl killed in Delhi accident, CM orders probe
A seven-year-old schoolgirl was killed and 16 others were injured when a speeding tanker hit their van in north Delhi on Thursday, police said.