Page 862 - Disaster Accident
Over 1,800 bridges in Gujarat to get stronger crash barriers
The Gujarat government has decided to install stronger 'W' type crash barriers along bridges on rivers and other waterbodies to ensure that vehicles don't plunge off them in case of accidents. Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel today told the Legislative Assembly that the Road and Building department had identified 1,884 bridges across the state where these crash barriers, having a 'W' shaped metal beam, would be installed in the next two years. "Even concrete walls break if a passenger vehicle rams into it at higher speeds. That is why we have decided to install such crash barriers, which are known to absorb the impact and prevent vehicles from falling," said Patel. "We will secure 895 bridges on state highways and 989 bridges on panchayat-owned roads with W type crash barriers. This work will be completed in two years. We have alloted Rs 125 crore for this project," Patel said during the Budget session. Patel, who holds the R and B portfolio, said a detailed analysis ..
Air India divestment process on track: Jayant Sinha
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha on Friday said the divestment process of state-owned air carrier Air India was very much on track in terms of the timeline.
Three killed in Maharashtra factory blasts
Three persons have died and 15 others were injured in a powerful blast that was followed by a blaze in a chemical factory at an industrial estate, barely 12 km from the country's biggest nuclear project, the Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS), officials said on Friday.
100% FDI in coal mining may attract global miners: Report
Opening up commercial coal mining for the private sector and allowing 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) are likely to attract global miners to invest in India, a report said today. Private sector participation would result in faster ramp up of coal production, helping gradually reduce India's import dependence, especially for thermal coal, Icra said in its report. Moreover, allowing 100 per cent FDI in commercial coal mining is likely to open the doors for global coal miners to invest in India, which can benefit the sector in the long run through increased technology adoption and mechanisation in mining operations thereby helping achieve better operational efficiency for the industry, it added. The coal ministry last month came out with the methodology for auction of mines, which largely aims at opening up the coal sector for private commercial mining and also looks at allowing 100 per cent FDI in order to create an efficient and competitive coal market. Icra
'Prohibition on non-ISI helmets a welcome move'
The ISI Helmet Association has hailed the move of making sale of non-ISI helmets an offence, saying these headwears compromise on safety and add to road fatalities. "We are now glad that the government has made it mandatory for all helmet manufacturers to obtain Indian standards certification from Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)," ISI helmet manufacture Association President Rajeev Kapur said. According to the association, a senior transport ministry official had stated that the BIS has informed the Supreme Court that the process would be completed in six months. Looking at the current statistics, over 75-80 per cent of helmets used by two-wheeler riders across India do not meet ISI standards, the market is flooded with sub-standard products that compromise on safety despite a fourth of all road deaths involve two-wheeler occupants, Kapur said. In India, riders underestimate the role of helmet and tend to buy cheap headwear, which does not protect them well and this has worsened the .
Tori-Shivpur rail section in J'khand to be completed by May: Sinha
Union Minister Manoj Sinha today inaugurated a 19.3-km railway line between Tori and Balumath in Jharkhand, and said it would facilitate faster transportation of coal from mines to power plants. The Tori-Balumath stretch is part of the 44-km Tori-Shivpuri railway section, which, the Minister of State for Railways said, would be completed by May. It will facilitate coal transportation from Central Coalfields Limited's open cast mines Amrapali and Magadh in Jharkhand's Latehar and Chatra districts respectively. There are three stations, five major bridges, seven road over-bridges and 39 minor bridges between Tori and Balumath. "The section passes through hilly terrain affected by Maoist and extremists activities. During execution of the project, problems were faced. There was firing at work sites and kidnapping of railway staff and officers by Maoist and extremists," Sinha said. He inaugurated the Tori-Balumath railway line through video-conferencing from Delhi. The minister said with ..
Groom, 4 others killed while returning after wedding in Telangana accident
A newly-wed man and four others, on their way back a day after the marriage, were killed in a road accident in Telangana's Khammam district today, police said. The groom, Ramakrishna (38), and four others were killed on the spot after their vehicle rammed into a roadside tree near Konijerla, they added. The bride, Sridevi (33), and four others sustained severe injuries and were admitted at a hospital, police said. The victims were returning to Warangal district after the wedding at Tanuku in West Godavari district yesterday, they added. Ramakrishna was at the wheel during the accident, which resulted after he lost control of the vehicle, police said.
Coal output from private miners unlikely to rise in medium term: Icra
Coal output levels from private commercial miners are unlikely to go up considerably in the medium to short term, given the issues related to land acquisition and regulatory clearances, rating agency Icra said today. The statement comes in the wake of government deciding to open up coal sector to commercial mining by private entities. However, the power plants already having fuel supply pacts with state run miners are unlikely to switch over to meeting their requirement from commercial miners in the medium term as such FSAs (fuel supply agreement) have been contracted at competitive rates, the rating agency said. "Nature of coal blocks selected and a stable and predictable policy framework would be other important determinants of the success of the auction process," the rating agency said. The coal ministry had last month came out with the methodology for auction of coal mines, which largely aims at opening up the coal sector for private commercial mining and also looks at allowing ...
Steps to reduce cost of production and import of coal
i. e-reverse auction for finalization of contracts for explosives implemented.
Full pay pension for those killed, injured while guarding China border
The government has finally extended an "exclusive family pension" to the armed forces personnel killed or injured while guarding the Sino-India border but did not heed to a long-standing demand by the Army to implement it with retrospective effect. The 'liberalised family pension' was applicable to only armed forces personnel deployed along the Line of Control and International Border (IB) with Pakistan. It provides for 100 per cent of the last "reckonable" emoluments in comparison to normal family pension of 30 per cent of the last emoluments, officials said. According to a defence ministry notification, the family pension scheme will come into effect from March 7, adding cases which were settled prior to the issue of the notification will not be "reopened". Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had promised to extend the liberalised family pension to those guarding the nearly 4,000-km-long Line of Control (LAC) with China. Official sources said the army was pressing for implementing ..
Maersk ship fire finally doused after 3 days
The massive chemical fire that broke out on the container ship named Maersk Honam three days ago has been finally doused.With 27 people, including 13 Indians, on board, the Maersk container ship caught fire following an explosion in the Arabian Sea.The incident took place at about 390 Nautical Miles from India's Agatti Islands at Lakshadweep.23 people out of 27 have been rescued while search operations are underway to locate the other four missing crew members.The Indian Coast Guard and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) are jointly carrying out the rescue operation.The ship left Singapore on March 1 and was having passage to Suez.The Indian Navy Boeing P8i was launched on Wednesday from Tamil Nadu's Arakkonam to look for the four missing crew members of Maersk Container.
ATMA reaches out to women with message of tyre safety
On the occasion of International Women's Day, the tyre industry, represented by the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) reached out to women urging them to take care of the tyres for safety and comfort of their families on the roads."Without sounding stereotypical, women are synonymous with taking care of the families and are often the prime movers behind safety, health and happiness of the family members. Since tyres play such a critical role in safety and comfort, we thought of reaching out to women with a view to spread the message of tyre safety to entire families," said Rajiv Budhraja, Director General ATMA.Under the campaign, women ambassadors of ATMA branched out in the capital, meeting women at busy market places, parking lots, metro stations and other public places. Specially designed Tyre Safety booklets were explained and distributed.Women, in particular, women motorists welcomed the initiative to create awareness and found the occasion to be most appropriate. .
Tori-Shivpur railway section in J'khand to be completed by May: Manoj Sinha
Union minister Manoj Sinha today inaugurated the Tori-Balumath railway line, saying it would facilitate faster transportation of coal from mines in Jharkhand to power plants. The Minister of State for Railways also said the 44-km Tori-Shivpuri railway section would be completed by May. The 19.3-km Tori-Balumath line is part of the Tori-Shivpuri section. It will facilitate coal transportation from Central Coalfields Limited's open cast mines -- Amrapali and Magadh in Jharkhand's Latehar and Chatra districts respectively. There are three stations, five major bridges, seven road over bridges and 39 minor bridges between Tori and Balumath. "The section passes through hilly terrain affected with Maoist and extremists activities. During execution of the project problems were faced. There was firing at work sites and kidnapping of railway staff and officers by Maoist and extremists," Sinha said. He inaugurated the Tori-Balumath railway line through video-conferencing from Delhi. The minister
Japan's Mt. Shinmoe erupts again
Mount Shinmoe in Japan's Kyushu island erupted violently again on Friday following a powerful eruption earlier this week.
Nearly 1mn without power as snowstorms hit US
Nearly one million residents were left without power and in the cold as two nor'easters hit the northeastern United States in less than one week.
Rail accident averted in UP
Timely discovery of a fracture in the railway tracks in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh helped to avert an accident on Friday, an official said.
Three killed in Maharashtra factory blast
Three persons have died and 15 others injured in a powerful blast that was followed by a blaze which ripped through a government industrial estate late last night, an official said here on Friday.
Indonesia caps domestic coal price at $70/T for 2 years: media
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia has moved to cap prices of domestic coal for power at $70 per tonne for two years, the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister said, according to media reports on Friday.
3 killed in Maharashtra factory fire
At least three people were killed in the fire that broke out at Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area in Tarapur town of Palghar district.At least 12 workers have also sustained burn injuries, in the fire that broke out in the late hours of Thursday."Fire has spread to the neighbouring industries. Six chemical factories were affected by it. Fire brigade teams are already at work," said Palghar Superintendent of Police (SP) Manjunath Singe.He said that the entire area has been cordoned off and teams of fire extinguisher are trying to douse the flames.Seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the fire, which started from a chemical factory. The blaze has reportedly engulfed two nearby factories too..