Page 820 - Disaster Accident
26,000 evacuated in west German town for WWII bomb removal
More than 26,000 people have been evacuated in the western German town of Paderborn so bomb specialists could remove a World War II-era bomb discovered during construction work. In addition to people leaving their homes, two hospitals, a university and several nursing homes had to be evacuated. Specialists defused the 1.8 ton heavy British bomb on Sunday, more than a week after it was found by construction workers in a garden, only 80 centimeters (31 inches) under the ground. The German news agency dpa reported that more than 1,000 firefighters, police and emergency personnel were involved in the evacuation. Even more than 70 years after the end of the war, bombs and other munitions still turn up regularly during construction work in Germany a testament to the ferocity of World War II.
Indian Navy tows stranded fishing boat to safety
An Indian Navy patrol vessel, INS Subhadra towed a fishing boat to safety which was stranded in the middle of Arabian Sea, off Karwar coast in Karnataka due to a failed engine.INS Subhadra, which was on a routine mission spotted the Indian fishing boat - Jay Vittal, about 20 nautical miles North West of Karwar on April 7.The boat along with it's nine crew members were stranded at sea since the main engines had stopped working.The boat was handed over to Coastal Security Police at Karwar for further assistance and coordination.Currently, the boat is undergoing repairs at Karwar fishing harbour and its crew members are safe and are planning to proceed for fishing soon after the repair work.
Toll in fire-cracker unit rises to 7
The toll rose to seven in the blaze in two different firework factories near Sivakasi in the district with one worker dying today, police said. Four persons -- two each -- died and five were injured in the fire mishaps on Friday last. Two persons succumbed to injuries yesterday. A man died today without responding to treatment at a government hospital, police said. The fire broke out at the units in Ramuthevanpatti and Kakkivadanpatti when the employees were handling chemicals.
Odisha incident an isolated one: Lohani
The rolling down of an engineless Ahmedabad-Puri Express in Odisha is an isolated incident of staff negligence that is sincerely regretted by the railways, Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani said today in a statement. "While the concerned staff has been suspended and a high-level enquiry has also been ordered, the railways remains committed to ensuring highest levels of safety in train operations. We have also ordered a one-month long drive over the entire network for sensitising the staff regarding the precautions to be taken to prevent such incidents," Lohani said. He further said passenger safety, followed by passenger comfort, remained the highest priority of the Indian Railways. "The subject of safety is continuously monitored at the highest levels in the railway board with the monitoring being done daily at the level of the CRB," the statement said. Seven railway employees were today suspended when 22 coaches of the Ahmadabad-Puri Express ran without an engine for several ...
Jet Airways plane makes emergency landing at Lucknow airport
A Delhi-bound Jet Airways plane, with 71 passengers on board, today made an emergency landing at Amausi airport here soon after take off following technical glitch, an airport official said. Airport Director AK Sharma today said all the passengers are safe and "we are fully prepared to handle any emergency situation". "The aircraft of Jet Airways (flight number 9W663) made an emergency landing at Amausi airport soon after take off. The flight, carrying 71 passengers, was from Lucknow to Delhi. There were some problem in the landing gear of the aircraft," he said. Sharma said that the flight left for Delhi with 26 passengers later in the evening .
Dead shell found on East-West Metro tunnel
Police today recovered a dead shell from an under-construction tunnel of the East-West Metro project near Kadapara area, a senior official said. Acting on a call from Metro Rail authorities, a team of police personnel from Beliaghata police station along with Kolkata Police bomb disposal squad reached the spot and recovered the dead shell from beside the rail tracks, the official said. "Construction workers discovered the shell while digging the ground there inside the tunnel. There was a huge tension after the shell was unearthed as people there took it as a live grenade planted by some miscreants. It's a dead shell and we have recovered it," the officer said.
Navy rescues stranded boat
Indian Navy rescued nine crew members of an Indian boat last afternoon about 20 nautical miles north west of Karwar, said an official communication of the Indian Navy today. "While on a routine mission, INS Subhadra spotted an Indian fishing boat - Jay Vittal- yesterday, about 20 nautical miles North West of Karwar. The boat, along with nine crew members, was stranded at sea since the main engines had stopped working. Upon request of the (Tamil speaking) boat crew, INS Subhadra towed the stranded fishing boat to safety, close to Karwar harbour," an Indian Navy spokesperson stated. "The boat was then handed over to Coastal Security Police at Karwar for further assistance and coordination. The boat is undergoing repairs at Karwar fishing harbor," said the Naval officer. All crew members of "Jay Vittal" are safe, the officer said.
7 railway men suspended as coaches roll down track without engine
Seven railway men were suspended in connection with lapses that led to 22 coaches of an express train with passengers on board travelling a few kilometres without an engine in Odisha even as the Railway Board today order a safety drive across the rail network. A possible disaster was averted after alert staff put stones on the track and brought the Ahmedabad-Puri Express to a halt late last night, an East Coast Railway (ECoR) spokesman said, adding all the passengers were safe. A day after the incident, Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani ordered a month-long safety drive across the network. The drive will be carried out jointly by operating and electrical departments, according to a statement issued by the Indian Railways in Delhi. While five railway personnel were placed under suspension this morning, two had been suspended soon after the coaches of the train rolled down the track at Titlagarh in Balangir district after detachment of the engine, the ECoR spokesman said. Two engine
SASB striving to make Amarnath yatra safe for pilgrims: JK Guv
The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) is making all efforts to ensure that the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine is a comfortable and safe experience for Yatris, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra said today. The SASB is working continuously for improving the facilities and conveniences provided to the pilgrims and in the past 10 years very significant investments have been made to establish infrastructure arrangements at the base camps and enroute the holy cave, Vohra said at a function here. Vohra, who is also the chairman of the SASB, was speaking after releasing Pratibhigya, a publication brought out by Baba Amarnath and Budha Amarnath Yatri Niyas. With the widening of tracks, installation of side railings along the tracks, increased number of toilets and baths in the camps, and prompt evacuation of seriously injured or patients to nearby healthcare facilities, the SASB is striving to make the pilgrimage a comfortable and safe experience for the Yatris, he said. The ...
People complain of breathing problem after leak of chemical
At least 100 people at a village in Howrah district today complained of breathing problem and burning sensation in the eyes following a suspected chemical leak while it was being transported, police said. Fire Brigade personnel suspect the liquid chemical to be Benzyl chloride and sent samples to a laboratory for testing. Police and Fire Brigade personnel rushed to Palow village under the jurisdiction of Uluberia police station after receiving information of the leakage of the chemical while it was being transported to a godown in a truck. One person was arrested in connection with the incident, the police said. The chemical leakage has been controlled, the Fire Brigade personnel said.
Railways orders safety drive after coaches roll down track without engine in Odisha
A day after 22 coaches of the Ahmedabad-Puri Express rolled down a few kilometres without an engine in Odisha, Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani today ordered a month-long safety drive across the network. The drive will be carried out jointly by operating and electrical departments, according to a statement issued by the Indian Railways. During the drive overseen by chief safety officers, shunting staff and loco pilots or shunters would be monitored. At the end of the drive, general managers will have to submit a report about their "observations, actions taken and suggestions for improvement," the statement stated. Last night, 22 coaches of the Ahmedabad-Puri Express rolled down from Titlagarh in Balangir district to Kesinga in Kalahandi district, covering about 13 km without the engine, after it was detached to be re-attached at the other end. Alert staff put stones on the track and brought the train to a halt, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has spokesman said. A panel, comprising
Pakistan summons US envoy over fatal car accident
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry on Sunday summoned US Ambassador David Hale and lodged a formal protest after a US diplomat crashed into motorcyclists in Islamabad, leaving one dead.
Pak summons US Ambassador over road-crash incident
Pakistan's Foreign Office on Sunday summoned the American ambassador to Pakistan David Hale to lodge a formal protest after a Pakistani motorcyclist was killed by the US Defence Attache in a road-crash."The US ambassador was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a strong protest was lodged by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua on the tragic death of the motorcyclist and serious injury to the co-rider in the traffic accident on Saturday that involved a US diplomat," Dawn reported, citing the statement issued by the FO on Sunday."The envoy expressed his deep sympathy and sadness over the loss of life and assured that the embassy would fully cooperate in the investigation," the statement added.Colonel Joseph Emanuel Hall, Defence and Air attache at the US Embassy, has run down three persons in Daman-e-Koh, north of Islamabad.He was reportedly sloshed while driving the white Land Cruiser that hit three motorcyclists at a traffic signal.One of the riders was dead, while the other ...
Traffic on Jammu-Srinagar national highway temporarily suspended after shooting of stones
Shooting of stones from a hillock overlooking the nearly 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar national highway forced suspension of traffic on the arterial road this afternoon, officials said. However, efforts are on to clear the debris and ensure early reopening of the highway - the only all weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, the officials said. Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Deeraj Singh Katosh said the shooting of stones, triggered by rainfall, occurred at Panthiyal near Ramban at around 3.30 pm, causing damage to a mini-bus and a cab. The passengers of both the vehicles escaped unhurt in the incident, he said adding that while the mini-bus was pulled out from the affected area, efforts are on to reach out to the cab. Intermittent rains lashed Ramban-Banihal stretch of the highway since this afternoon. After closure of the highway, no vehicle was allowed to ply from either Jammu or Srinagar as a precautionary measure, Katosh told PTI. He said the blocking of the
Collision between car, bus claims 4 lives
At least four people died and five others were injured after a car collided with a state transport corporation bus near Haliyal town of Karnataka.While the car, which had nine people on board, was travelling from Dharwad to Dandeli, the bus was going from Haliyal to Dharwad.The injured were admitted to hospital.Police have begun an investigation on the matter.
Six killed in Ghana gold mining site collapse: company
Six miners were killed and two injured when the roof of a tunnel collapsed at a gold mining site operated by US-based Newmont in Ghanas southern region, the company said today. "I can confirm six fatalities to you. Two others were treated at the clinic and discharged after the tragedy on Saturday," said company spokesperson Agbeko Azumah. The accident happened in the Brong Ahafo region, some 430 kilometres from the capital Accra, he said. "The entire Newmont family is devastated by this tragic accident and our priority is to provide support to the families, friends and co-workers of the deceased," Alwyn Pretorius, the companys vice president in Africa, said in a statement. The firm said it had evacuated other workers at the site and that operations had been suspended to allow for an investigation. "All other employees working in the area have been safely relocated and the scene of the accident has been secured," Pretorius said. "The police are on site and the appropriate government ...
Canada in grief after hockey team bus accident
Canada has been plunged into "shock and mourning" after 15 people were killed and 14 other injured in a "nightmare" collision between a bus carrying a junior hockey team and a semi-trailer, the media reported on Sunday.
Pak summons US envoy over death of biker in accident involving American diplomat
Pakistan today summoned US Ambassador David Hale and lodged a strong protest over the killing of a motorcyclist in a road accident involving a vehicle driven by a senior US diplomat. A fast-moving Land Cruiser, driven by Col Joseph Emanuel Hall, the defence and air attache at the US embassy, jumped the red light and hit a motorcycle carrying two men at a traffic signal near Islamabad's Daman-e-Koh area yesterday. The motorcyclist, identified as Atiq Baig, 22, died due to a head injury while the pillion rider Raheel Ahmed received injuries. To register its protest over the incident, the Foreign Office summoned US Ambassador Hale. "The US ambassador was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today and a strong protest was lodged by the Foreign Secretary on the tragic death of the motorcyclist and serious injury to the co-rider in the traffic accident yesterday that involved a US diplomat, Foreign Office said in a statement. It said that the US ambassador expressed his deep sympathy ..
Seven rly staff suspended for running train without engine
Seven railway staff were suspended in connection with the lapses that led to the coaches of an Express train to travel a few km without engine in Odisha, a railway official said today. While five railway staff were placed under suspension this morning, two had been suspended soon after the coaches of Ahmedabad-Puri rolled down at Titlagarh in Balangir district after detachment of engine late last night, he said. The suspended staff included two engine drivers, three carriage repairing staff and two operating department employees, an East Coast Railway (EC0R) Spokesman said. A possible disaster was averted after Ahmedabad-Puri Express train with 22 coaches rolled down without engine. The coaches travelled from Titlagarh station in Balangir district towards Kesinga in Kalahandi district after the engine was detached to be attached at the other end. All passengers were safe and the coaches were stopped by alert staff by putting stones and bringing the train to a halt, the ..
Indian Railways to preserve its metre-gauge tracks to promote heritage tourism
Moving beyond the five hill networks that are major tourist attractions, Indian Railways is planning to also preserve its old five-metre gauge tracks built during its early days in the British era to promote heritage tourism.