Page 870 - Disaster Accident
HC grants 3 months time to ensure ramps in TN hospitals
The Madras High Court has granted the Tamil Nadu government three months time to implement fully its order with regard to provision of ramps and fire-fighting equipment in hospitals in the state. The First Bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose gave the order on a PIL by Jawaharlal Shanmugam, seeking a direction to make it mandatory to provide ramp facility in hospitals from top-most floor to ground floor for easy evacuation of patients during emergencies. In a status report filed by Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan, the state government said it has already sanctioned a sum of Rs 1.154 crore for providing fire-fighting sprinkler system in the basement of Tower Block I and II at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai. The petitioner, who appeared in person, alleged that in a majority of private hospitals there was violation of statutory rules and regulations. The petitioner, who was made member of an expert panel, was asked to inspect ...
Jammu-Srinagar highway cleared for one-way traffic after landslide
Vehicular movement on the nearly 300-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway was restored after it remained suspended for several hours due to a landslide this morning, officials said. Traffic on the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of India was restored after a nearly three-hour long road clearance operation, traffic department officials said. They said a landslide had struck the highway in the Maroog area of Ramban around 10:30 am, forcing authorities to suspend traffic. The traffic on the highway had been restricted to one-way and only Jammu-bound vehicles were allowed on the road from Srinagar this morning. The officials said that a road-clearance operation was launched despite a drizzle and work was completed within three hours, following which the stranded vehicles were allowed to move towards their destination. Incessant rain lashed parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including the highway, over the past two days, triggering landslides at several places on the ...
Injured Lankan fisherman rescued by CG brought to Kochi
A severely injured fisherman onboard a Sri Lankan fishing vessel, who was rescued by the Indian Coast Guard, has been brought here, a defence spokesman said today. The vessel had left the island nation on February 14 with five crew members. One of the crew members Malwatta Pathirannehalage Sunil Shantha, aged 47, had suffered a serious head injury "from the pick-up hook" while fishing off Cheniyakara Island, a defence release said. There was "infected laceration in posterior head which was about 8 cm long and 1.5 cm deep," it said. Coast Guard Regional Headquarter (West) was intimated about the incident on March 1. Accordingly, the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Samar, which was operating off Minicoy then, proceeded to evacuate the patient from the vessel. The injured fisherman was shifted onboard ICGS Samar. He has been brought to Kochi for hospitalisation today, the spokesman said. The Lankan fishing vessel, Geeth Baba, continued its voyage to Sri Lanka with the ...
Bacteria contaminated melons leave 3 dead in Australia
Three people have died and 15 others have fallen ill in a listeria bacteria outbreak linked to contaminated rockmelons in Australia, according to the country's health authorities.
Elevator at Delhi AIIMS crashes, injuring 5
At least five people were injured when an elevator at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here malfunctioned and crashed to the ground from the second floor on Saturday morning.
Landslides on Jammu-Srinagar Highway hit traffic
Fresh landslides triggered by continuous rains in Ramban district disrupted traffic flow on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Saturday, authorities said.
Himachal to promote 'no-honking' drive
The government will launch a 'no-honking' campaign in Himachal Pradesh to spread awareness regarding the health hazards from honking by motorists, it was announced on Saturday.
7 killed, 1mn without power as massive storm pounds US
At least seven people were killed and over one million left without power as a massive storm continued to pummel the US East Coast on Saturday with drenching rain, howling winds and surging waves. The nor'easter also brought travel services to a halt.
Verka visits families of 8 pilgrims killed in accident in HP
Congress MLA Raj Kumar Verka said today that the Punjab government would give Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia to the families of eight pilgrims killed in a road accident in Himachal Pradesh. Verka, the legislator from Amritsar (West) constituency, also visited the families in the city. Eight pilgrims were killed and one person was seriously injured yesterday after their car fell into a gorge about eight kilometres from Swarghat on Chandigarh-Manali national highway. The pilgrims were returning to Amritsar from Manikaran when the driver lost control over the vehicle. Verka said the deceased were identified as Gurinder Singh, Jasbir Singh (brothers), Mandeep Singh and Sonu (brothers), Davinder Singh, Kawaljit Singh, Luvpreet Singh and Baljit Singh - all residents of Rajasansi village.
Egypt's health ministry says 9 killed in road accident
Egypt's Health Ministry says a car crash has left nine people dead and eight others wounded on a desert road connecting the capital Cairo and the city of Ismailia. Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said the accident took place Saturday when a taxi cab crashed into a microbus, leading the cab to burst into flames. He said the injuries include first-degree burns and suspected concussions. Road accidents are common in Egypt, often the result of badly maintained roads and poor enforcement of traffic laws. The World Health Organization says such accidents kill around 12,000 people in Egypt annually. Egypt generally has a poor transportation safety record. On Wednesday, a passenger train collided with a cargo train north of Cairo, killing at least 12 people, including a child.
AIIMS: Faculty lift falls from sec floor, 5 injured
A lift near the office of the medical superintendent at the AIIMS here today came crashing down from the second floor, leaving five persons injured, an official said. The incident happened around 11.45 am. The AIIMS official said that the lift fell down from second floor due to some technical fault. "There were five persons including the lift operator inside. They have suffered minor injuries and were given medical aid immediately at the hospital. All of them are stable," the officer said. The lift has been closed down for repair now, the official said. According to a senior police official, two persons are suspected to have suffered fractures.
Landslide blocks Jammu-Srinagar highway
A fresh landslide today blocked the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near Ramban town, officials said, adding that efforts were on to make the nearly 300-km-road traffic worthy. A landslide struck the highway, the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of India, in Maroog area at around 1030 hours, forcing authorities to suspend traffic on the highway, traffic department officials said. The traffic on the highway had been restricted to one way for a fortnight and only Jammu-bound vehicles were allowed to run on the road from Srinagar this morning. The officials said a road clearance operation was underway despite drizzle and efforts were on to remove the blockade from the highway as soon as possible. Incessant rainfall lashed parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including the highway over the past two days, triggering landslides at several places on the Ramban-Banihal stretch. However, the road was cleared around noon yesterday and the traffic, which was suspended earlier ...
Lorry driver from TN killed in Mangaluru
A 38 year-old lorry driver from Tamil Nadu was killed allegedly by a fellow driver after a quarrel over some personal issues here last night, police said today. Police said they arrested Suresh (49) within hours of the killing of Selvamani following investigations. Selvamani and Suresh had arrived here to deliver some goods in parts of Karnataka. The two were having dinner last night when a quarrel broke out over some personal issues. Suddenly, Suresh fatally stabbed Selvamani in the stomach using a knife and a screw driver, police said. He was rushed to a hospital but died without responding to treatment, they added.
7 killed in accidents, 16 hurt in clashes on Holi in UP
At least seven people were killed in separate road accidents in Uttar Pradesh on Holi, police said today. In Barabanki, five people were killed in three road accidents. According to Circle Officer (Sadar) Sushil Kumar, all three accidents involved motorcyclists, including one in which two people were visiting the district for a 'Holi Milan' programme. Two people died in Banda after their motorcycle collided with the official car of the city magistrate, police said. Additional Superintendent of Police Lal Bharat Kumar Pal said Magistrate Ramesh Chandra Tiwari was going to Tindwari to greet people on Holi, whe his official car collided with a motorbike. Two people injured in the accident later succumbed at a hospital, Pal said, adding that Tiwari and two other occupants of the car were also injured. The driver has been detained. Meanwhile in Bareilly, at least 16 people were injured in violent clashes and stone-pelting incidents yesterday. Senior Superintendent of Police Joginder Kumar .
One killed as train rams into truck in UP
One person was killed and two others injured when a train rammed into a truck on an unmanned railway crossing in Uttar Pradesh's Hapur district on Saturday, police said.
Elevator crashes from second floor at AIIMS hospital, 5 injured
Five people were injured after an elevator crashed from the second floor of a building at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here on Saturday, police said.
Man dies in Delhi night shelter fire on Holi
A homeless man died in a fire at a night shelter in Delhi's Kashmiri Gate area, a police official said today. The body of the unidentified man, aged about 25, was found in the remains of the burnt tent of the night shelter run by a non-government organisation at Yamuna Bazar, the official said. More than a dozen people were in the night shelter when the fire started last night. Except the deceased, others managed to escape, he said. Police had received a call about the fire at 11:15pm. Three fire tenders were rushed to the spot and it took them half an hour to douse the fire, a Delhi Fire Service official said. Police suspect a short-circuit may have led to the fire, the official said, adding that an investigation is underway. The body has been sent for autopsy.
Garment, chemical manufacturing units gutted in fire
Several garment and chemical manufacturing units were gutted in a fire in suburban Andheri late last night, a senior civic official said today. The blaze erupted in one of the units and spread to the other units located in Aslfa village at around 11.45 pm and efforts to douse it are still underway, the official of the Disaster Management Cell of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said. So far no casualties have been reported and the exact number of units gutted in the fire is yet to be ascertained, the official said. Eight fire engines, six jumbo tankers and five jetties have been pressed into service, he said, adding the exact cause of the blaze was not yet known.
Five killed, over 90,000 left without power in US storm
At least five people have been killed and over 90,000 households left without electricity as powerful storm continued to pound the US East Coast on Saturday with drenching rain.
California storm kills 1, avalanche injures 2 at ski resort
A winter storm that roared through California left a snowboarder dead and sent an avalanche crashing down on five people at a Sierra Nevada ski resort, but the danger of another deadly mudslide eased in a devastated coastal community. Dozens of rescuers and rescue dogs rushed to the scene after an avalanche hit the Squaw Valley Ski Resort near Lake Tahoe near the Nevada state line. Video showed them digging out a man from the snow. One man was hospitalized with a serious lower body injury, another person was treated for injuries and released while three other people escaped injury, the resort said in a statement. The skiers and snowboarders were within areas open to skiing at the time and the guests had been warned of the potential danger, resort spokeswoman Liesl Hepburn said. The resort used explosives and other tools to knock down snow to prevent avalanches throughout the day but the snowfall was heavy, she said. "We had assessed the area to be safe to open to the public and ...