Page 795 - Disaster Accident
Disasters could cost Asia-Pacific region $160 bn per year by 2030: UN
Economic losses to disasters in Asia and the Pacific could exceed USD 160 billion annually by 2030, the United Nations development arm in the region warned, urging greater innovation in disaster risk financing. The need is all the more pressing given that only eight per cent of region's losses are insured, said the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). "The time for establishing solutions to these complex emerging challenges is now," underlined Shamshad Akhtar, the Executive Secretary of ESCAP, speaking at an event on financing for disaster risk reduction in Asia-Pacific here. The low insurance coverage has persisted in the region even though it has suffered nearly USD 1.3 trillion in losses over the last 50 years. The result is that individuals, businesses and governments are left to bear the staggering costs of natural calamities. And with extreme weather events increasing as the region's cities become more crowded, the gap could widen. Economic losses .
13 school children killed in UP accident
Thirteen school children were killed and six others seriously injured on Thursday when a train hit their van at an unmanned railway crossing in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar, police said.
Indonesia oil well explosion death toll climbs to 21
The death toll from an oil well explosion in Indonesia has climbed to 21, with dozens of others in hospital, authorities said today, as they extinguished the towering blaze. The latest toll was more than double an initial count of 10 as more victims succumbed to their injuries in hospital following the accident early Wednesday morning. An oil spill sparked a huge fire that shot up some 70 metres (230 feet) in the air, above homes and palm trees in a residential area on Sumatra island's Aceh province. Several houses were also destroyed in the explosion in the village of Peureulak until authorities finally managed to snuff out the blaze. "The fire has been extinguished now.... We are still monitoring the injured and the situation at the accident," said Henny Nurmayani, an official at Aceh's disaster mitigation agency. Three dozen victims remain in hospital, she added. The victims were collecting oil from around the entrance of the illegal old well bore when the fire erupted, police ...
13 children killed as train hits school van at unmanned crossing
Thirteen children were killed and eight others injured when a train rammed into their school van at an unmanned railway crossing in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar area, around 50 km from Gorakhpur, this morning, a railway official said. The children, students of Divine Public School, were killed on the spot when the Thawe-Kapatanganj passenger train crashed into the van at the unmanned crossing gate at Behpurva, said Railways spokesman Ved Prakash. The train was on way to Gorakhpur from Siwan. There were at least 25 passengers, including children who were below the age of 10, in the van, the official said. "It was an unmanned level crossing gate at Behpurva, with Gate Mitra (rail volunteer) deployed there. He tried to stop the van but the unfortunate incident happened at unmanned gate 45 near Dudhi station in Banaras division," the spokesperson said in New Delhi. An accident relief medical train from Gorakhpur has been dispatched to the site, he said. Expressing condolence, Chief Minister
13 children killed as train hits school bus at
Thirteen children were killed and eight others injured when a train rammed into their school van at an unmanned railway crossing in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar area, around 50 km from Gorakhpur, this morning, a railway official said. The children, students of Divine Public School, were killed on the spot when the Thawe-Kapatanganj passenger train crashed into the van at the unmanned crossing gate at Behpurva, said Railways spokesman Ved Prakash. The train was on way to Gorakhpur from Siwan. There were at least 25 passengers, including children who were below the age of 10, in the van, the official said. "It was an unmanned level crossing gate at Behpurva, with Gate Mitra (rail volunteer) deployed there. He tried to stop the van but the unfortunate incident happened at unmanned gate 45 near Dudhi station in Banaras division," the spokesperson said in New Delhi. An accident relief medical train from Gorakhpur has been dispatched to the site, he said. Expressing condolence, Chief Minister
Kushinagar accident: CM Adityanath announces ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday expressed his deepest condolences on the Kushinagar accident and declared an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh to the kin of the deceased.The Chief Minister has also directed the District Administration to provide all possible help and medical aid to the injured children.A statement by Uttar Pradesh government said, "The Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deepest condolences on this very unfortunate incident and directed District Administration to provide all help and medical aid, declared ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs and also directed an inquiry into cause of accident."In the meantime, ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said that a total 18 school students were travelling in the vehicle out of which 11 have died."7 are critically injured, death toll may go up," he added.Earlier in the day, at least 11 school students were killed after the vehicle they were travelling in collided with a passenger train at an unmanned crossing in Uttar ...
13 school children killed as train hits school van in UP
At least 13 children were killed today and eight others injured when their school van was hit by a train at an unmanned railway crossing in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar district, an official said. The children, students of Divine Public School, were killed on the spot when Thawe-Kapatanganj passenger train (55075) crashed into the van at an unmanned crossing gate at Behpurva, said Ved Prakash, spokesperson for Railways. There were at least 25 people, including children in the van, most of whom were children below the age of 10 years, the official said. The train was on way to Gorakhpur from Siwan. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each to the deceased's family and ordered an inquiry by the Gorakhpur commissioner. "It was unmanned level crossing gate at Behpurva, with Gate Mitra deployed there. He tried to stop but unfortunate incident happened at unmanned gate 45 near Dudhi station in Banaras division," the spokesperson said in New ...
20 killed in separate road accidents in Pakistan
At least 20 people were killed and dozens injured in separate road accidents in Pakistan, the media and police said.
Three killed in two separate road accidents in northwest Delhi
Three persons were today killed in two separate road accidents in Rohini and northwest Delhi, police said today. In the first incident, two persons, riding on a scooter, rammed their vehicle into a tree in the Shahbad Dairy area in Rohini on April 24, they said. The incident happened when Virendrapal (45) and Saleem (28) were returning from a party. As they reached near the CNG pump in Shahbad Dairy, they lost control over the vehicle and rammed it into a tree. Virendrapal was declared brought dead, while Saleem is undergoing treatment, police said. In the second incident, a man was killed while his three-year-old son was injured after being hit by a truck in northwest Delhi's Bhalswa Dairy. The man, identified as Arvind Kumar, was riding a motorcycle, they said. The accident took place near the Libaspur Bus Stand. Police said they have registered a case and are on the lookout for the accused driver. The boy is undergoing treatment, police added.
Myanmar firefighters tackle days-long garbage dump blaze
Myanmar firefighters said today they have brought under control a blaze in a massive garbage dump on the edge of the country's biggest city Yangon after several days of battling the flames. The conflagration started Saturday and quickly spread across an area of some 100 acres -- a third of the garbage dump -- blanketing parts of the commercial hub with foul smelling smoke. Some 160 soldiers yesterday joined 450 firefighters and their dozens of fire trucks to help fight the blaze around the clock while local people and monks have brought food and water to those on the frontline. Even away from the flames, temperatures have rocketed in recent days to a sweltering 38 degrees as the country hits peak hot season. "The fire is now under control," Deputy Director of Myanmar Fire Service Department Win Win told AFP, adding that they would need "some time" to put it out completely. As night fell, small pockets of flames fanned by the breeze continued to burst up around the troops and ...
Akshaya Patra begins food relief to fire-affected residents of Shahadra
Akshaya Patra, which runs the world's largest mid-day meal scheme across India, has stepped in with food relief for the victims of a devastating fire in Mansarovar Park, Shahadra.
Nepal observes third anniversary of devastating earthquake
Hundreds of people gathered in the midst of the remains of historic shrine of Kashthamandap in the heart of Nepal's capital city to remember victims of the 2015 earthequake, with prime minister K P Oli vowing to rebuild the heritage sites devastated in the tragedy. The earthquake had killed around 9,000 people and injured more than 22,000 in 2015. The people gathered at Kashthamandap observed silence and lit candles to remember victims. The magnitude 7.8 quake and its aftershocks damaged or destroyed nearly one million buildings and displaced millions of people. Even after three years of the devastating incident, many people are still struggling to rebuild their homes despite international pledges of more than USD 4 billion in aid. The Nepal government has been criticised for its slow progress in the reconstruction and rehabilitation works. Addressing a gathering held in the ruins of the historical nine-storey historic tower Dharahara, Prime Minister Oli vowed to intensify ...
North Korea nuclear test site part-collapsed: Chinese experts
North Korea's underground nuclear test site has partially collapsed following a massive bomb blast last year, making it unusable, Chinese seismologists have concluded. The North's leader Kim Jong Un declared last week that his regime would halt nuclear and long-range missile tests and shut down its nuclear site at Punggye-ri under Mount Mantap in the country's northeast. The offer came days before his summit this Friday with the South's President Moon Jae-in, which is scheduled to be followed by a summit with US President Donald Trump. North Korea conducted five of its six nuclear tests at the site, with the biggest blast last September 3 triggering a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that was felt across the northern border with China. The North claimed it tested a hydrogen bomb. Landslides and earthquakes following the explosion led to speculation that the site was suffering from "tired mountain syndrome". Two studies involving Chinese experts have found that a 4.1-magnitude aftershock that .
18 killed in Indonesia oil well fire
At least 18 people were killed and 41 injured on Wednesday after a fire broke out in an oil well in the Indonesian province of Aceh in Sumatra, officials said.
Indonesia oil well explosion kills 18, injures dozens
The death toll from a blaze at an illegal Indonesian oil well today has jumped to 18 with dozens injured, authorities said, warning there could be yet more victims. Images from the accident showed a towering flame shooting some 70 metres above homes and palm trees dotting a small community in Sumatra island's Aceh province. Firefighters this afternoon were still battling the blaze sparked by an oil spill at about 1:30 am in a residential area. Several homes were destroyed. "We're still unable to control the fire," said Syahrizal Fauzi, head of the local disaster mitigation agency. "We don't know if there are still victims because we cannot get any closer." Authorities initially said at least 10 people died and some 40 "severely injured" victims were being treated. The jump in the death toll was due to the subsequent deaths of eight victims who had been rushed to hospital, authorities said. "There was a group of people digging in the old well but suddenly a huge fire was sparked and ..
MP: four of marriage party killed in accident
Four persons were killed and 12 others were injured when a mini-van carrying a marriage party was hit by a speeding truck from behind near Angor village on the Chhatarpur-Sagar road in Madhya Pradesh today. "Four persons were killed and 12 others including two children got injured," City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Rakesh Sankhwar said. Two of the deceased were identified as Chotelal Ahirwar (30) and Manka Sen (16). The identity of other two is yet to ascertained, he said. The injured were admitted to the district hospital. The victims were returning to their village Bamni Ghat from Angor, Sankhwar said. The truck driver fled from the spot with his vehicle, the CSP said, adding that further probe was on.
Maha: 'Medium intensity' drought in 8 tehsils of 3 districts
The Maharashtra government today announced 'medium intensity' drought in eight out of 398 tehsils in the state following water shortage and crop losses in these areas, spread across three districts of Yavatmal, Washim and Jalgaon. It also declared various relief measures for farmers in these areas. A government resolution (GR) declaring a medium intensity drought in these tehsils was issued today after a review of the crop situation, damage caused by unseasonal rains, ground water level depletion and losses suffered by farmers due to other reasons, said an official from the revenue department. Ralegaon, Digras, Ghatanji, Kelapur and Yavatmal tehsils in Yavatmal district, Washim tehsil in Washim district and Muktainagar and Bodwad in Jalgaon district figure in the list. The official said the water conservation drive undertaken by the government has led to increase in the ground water levels across the state. It has resulted in declaration of water shortage during summer
2 kiled in road accident
Two people were killed and two others seriously injured when their car collided with a truck on NH-1 near Ambala city today, police said. The deceased were identified as Rishabh and Kamal, the residents of Karnal. The injured, identified as Sheetal and Siddarth, were admitted to civil hospital at Ambala city, they said. The four of them were on the way to Nakodar (Punjab) from Karnal. When they were passing through Ambala city, their car collided with a truck, the police said. A case was registered in the matter.
Earthquake mock exercise in Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will conduct a mock exercise on earthquake preparedness tomorrow in Tripura, Nagaland and Mizoram, the agency said in a statement. "The exercise, which is being held in collaboration with the respective State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), will help participating agencies and stakeholders in evaluating the effectiveness of their disaster response plans," the release said. The exercise is significant as the participating states fall under seismic vulnerability Zone-V, it added. "The mock exercise will be followed by a detailed debriefing session, where gaps and shortcomings, if any, for improving preparedness, will be discussed. Independent observers will be deployed to monitor the entire exercise," the statement said. In the run-up to the exercise, orientation-cum- coordination conferences were held on April 12, 2018 with different stakeholders at the respective state capitals for working out the detailed ...
Ola sets up council to enhance road safety
Cab aggregator Ola today said it has set up a 'safety council' that will bring together organisations and individuals from various sectors to work together on enhancing safety on Indian roads. The council will work alongside policy makers, state transport authorities, traffic police departments and other stakeholders to create solutions that enhance ride and road safety on Ola as well as the ecosystem at large, Ola said in a statement. "Ola safety council will bring together members' knowledge, data, technology and local networks, and will focus on areas that will make the greatest impact," it added. "In the coming months, the Ola Safety council will work on advancing innovative solutions to accelerate the growth and social impact of road safety tech, leveraging council members insights for best practices in safety for ride-sharing industry and addressing road safety challenges by working with local Government and other key stakeholders," it said. Member organisations include Indian ..