Page 89 - Disaster Accident
Notre Dame's melted roof leaves astronomical lead levels
Notre Dame Cathedral's melted roof has left astronomically high lead levels in the plaza outside and adjacent roads. Paris police say lead levels from the roof were found to be between 10 and 20 grams per kilogram of ground between 32 and 65 times the recommended limit by French health authorities of 0.3 grams per kilogram. The areas closest to the cathedral are currently closed. The statement Thursday said the main danger is lead dust that could coat surfaces of nearby homes and businesses. To avoid lead poisoning, authorities have recommended a good cleaning with a damp cloth, and that pregnant women and children wash hands frequently. Hundreds of tons of lead were used in Notre Dame's frame, as well as the church spire that burned and collapsed.
Karnataka gives Rs 10 cr aid to cyclone-hit Odisha
The Karnataka government has contributed Rs 10 crore to the cyclone-hit Odisha for relief assistance to the affected people, an official statement said on Thursday.
NDMA has approved DPR to prevent further sinking of land:
Mizoram government's detailed project report (DPR) to prevent further sinking of land at Hunthar area here was recently approved by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), state Home minister Lalchamliana Thursday said. Lalchamliana told PTI that the area had been damaged a number of times during monsoon due to water leakage under the soil and the NDMA has approved the Rs 20 crore DPR of the state government. The work would begin after the monsoon while cement coating would be used as a temporary measure during the impending monsoon, the minister said. Over 100 families have been affected by massive landslides in the area where over 50 houses were dismantled rending hundreds of people displaced.
'Grab a meal' before flying in or out of Mumbai Airport
No more flying hungry for air passengers. In a unique initiative, the Mumbai Airport will launch a service enabling travellers to pre-order their food and have it delivered to the airport or self-picked en route, an official said here on Thursday.
Karnataka announces Rs 10-crore relief to cyclone-hit Odisha
Karnataka government Thursday announced Rs 10 crore as relief and assistance to cyclone-affected people of Odisha. "In view of huge loss of life and property in Odisha on account of the 'Fani' cyclone, it isproposed to contribute a sum of Rs 10 crore to assist the affected people," the government said. The toll in the cyclone-battered state has mounted to 41, officials there had said Wednesday. Massive restoration work is underway in that state whereFani made a landfall near Puri last Friday, ripping apart majorinfrastructure, including houses, water and power supplyamong others.
Man dies as heap of garbage falls on house & shatters roof
A 48-year-old man died after the roof of his house collapsed when a heap of garbage fell on it at a slum in suburban Kurla, a civic official said Thursday. The incident took place on Wednesday morning, which also left another person injured, he said. "The slum is located at the base of a hill, where the residents dump the garbage and scrap material. On Wednesday, a heap of garbage came rolling down and landed on the ground plus one-storey house," the official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. Due to the weight of the garbage, the roof of the house collapsed, in which Abdul Qureshi (48) and Rahemadi (65), suffered injuries. "They were rushed to a nearby hospital, where Qureshi was decalred brought dead," the official said.
US ends search for Japan's F-35 that crashed in April
The US Navy said Thursday it has suspended its search for a Japanese air force F-35A stealth fighter that crashed off Japan's coast last month, after the allies scrambled to locate the aircraft filled with military secrets. The pilot is still missing. Japan's Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said his country would continue its search. The Navy said in a statement that it was withdrawing after its salvage vehicle, CURV 21, found unidentified debris from the aircraft. It crashed in the Pacific off the eastern coast of Aomori in northern Japan during a night training flight April 9. It went missing about half an hour after taking off from the Misawa air base with three other F-35As. The Navy was unusually quick in the salvage effort amid air and maritime activity in the region by China and Russia. It dispatched the guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem and P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft to join a Japanese search and rescue team. From April 9 to 17, the US search covered more than 5,000
RSP launches initiative to further strengthen safety
Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) has launched an unique initiative to further strengthen safety with a goal to achieve zero accident by making each of its employees an "Ambassador of Safety." Christened as Sankalp-A safety Intervention, the drive was launched on Wednesday by RSPs CEO Dipak Chattaraj, who exhorted the employees to start a 'Word of Mouth' campaign to make safety an intrinsic part of everyones day- to-day life, RSP said in a release. "Safety practices and protocols should become part of our conversation wherever we are. Each and every one of us should become an Ambassador of Safety," the CEO said. While elaborating on the strategy for realising the goal of accident free steel, Chattaraj said, "For me, the ABC of Safety is: A Awareness, B- Belief and C- Commitment. The more aware we are about the hazards, the firmer our belief in our capability and the stronger our commitment towards the cause ... " Stressing on the need to get rid of the monster called ...
Iran firefighters put out blaze at historic bazaar in Tabriz
Iranian media say firefighters managed to put out a blaze that erupted at the historic market in the northwestern city of Tabriz. Thursday's report by the official IRNA news agency says some 16 people were slightly injured in the fire, which erupted around 9 p.m. on Wednesday at the Bazaar of Tabriz, which dates back 1,000 years. IRNA says it took six hours to extinguish the fire. About 150 of the market's 5,500 shops were damaged. The bazaar has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010 and was mentioned by Marco Polo when he travelled the Silk Road in the Middle Ages. There was no word on what started the fire. The Bazaar of Tabriz has seen several fires over the past years due to disregard of safety measures.
Hyderabad: Over 3 Kg gold seized from two passengers
Customs authorities on Wednesday seized over 3 kilograms of gold from two passengers at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here.The duo has been booked under the relevant section of the law.Officials said they recovered a total of 3.329 kilograms of gold that was in a paste form and that was hidden near the rectum of both the passengers..
Gold worth over Rs 1 Cr seized from two air passengers
: Smuggled gold weighing 3.329 kg and worth over Rs 1 crore has been seizedat the international airport here from two passengers, who allegedly hid the yellow metal in their rectum, Customs officials said Thursday. According to the officials, two passengers, who arrived from Dubai on Wednesday, were intercepted by Customs personnel and after verification the gold in paste form (gross weight 3,951 grams) which they had concealed in their rectum was recovered. The 3.329 kg gold was valued at Rs 1.09 crore, they said adding cases were registered and the passengers were questioned.
Massive landslide blocks Jammu-Srinagar highway
A massive landslide in Ramban district on Thursday blocked the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, stranding hundreds of vehicles.
Reliance Foundation lends hand for relief work in cyclone-hit states
Reliance Foundation Thursday said it is helping the governments of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in carrying out relief work in the aftermath of cyclone Fani. Reliance Foundation (RF) is the philanthropic arm of industrialist Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries, and his wife Nita Ambani is its founder and chairperson. RF has also set up a toll free helpline number -- 1800 419 8800 -- to address all cyclone-related queries and provide assistance, RF said in a statement. The Foundation has been involved with the state disaster management authorities in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh since the cyclone Fani hit the states, RF said. It had also sent out advisories to fishing communities and farmers in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal. The RF teams in Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh, and Penthkatha in Puri district, Odisha also conducted evacuation drives in collaboration with the Marine Police and the Department of Fisheries, respectively. In Andhra Pradesh, more ..
Jammu-Srinagar National Highway closed after landslide hits Ramban
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed on Thursday following a landslide at Digdole in Ramban district, officials said.Due to the landslide, the state traffic police has restricted the movement of vehicles, leaving scores of commuters stranded.The 300-kilometre long Jammu-Srinagar highway connects the Kashmir valley with the rest of India. Essential supplies reach the Valley via this highway.
Paris-Mumbai flight makes emergency landing in Iran before flying to Dubai
A jetliner flown by a subsidiary of Air France that made an emergency landing in Iran stayed on the ground for several hours Wednesday before flying to Dubai, according to the airline. The Airbus A340 flown by the low-cost carrier Joon was heading from Paris to Mumbai when it landed in the central Iran city of Isfahan. Joon said in a statement that the plane, operating as flight AF218, landed out of precaution over a malfunctioning ventilation circuit. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency said local authorities provided services to passengers. It said all were in good health. Air France said the plane was checked by local maintenance teams and then departed for Al Maktoun International Airport in Dubai, where it was expected to arrive early Thursday. Air France said it would re-route passengers to Mumbai on other airlines as soon as possible. In December, a Norwegian Air Boeing 737 Max made an emergency landing in Iran while flying from Dubai to Oslo. Passengers were able to leave the ...
Kendrapara plumbers join hands in water supply restoration
Skilled plumbers from Kendrapara district have come forward to put in place overhead water tanks that were blown away by severe cyclonic storm Fani and repair pipelines in Bhubaneswar and Puri, where people were grappling with water shortage. The coastal district of Kendrapara regarded as the countrys plumbing capital, is also known abroad for its efficient plumbers. "The district is home to a large number of plumbers. As Kendrapara was less affected by the cyclone, we sought the services of the plumbers for water supply restoration. "But we had no contact with them. Through plumbing placement agencies and firms, batches of plumbers were brought here. They have done a good job in restoring water supply in many areas of the capital city," said PHED Assistant Engineer B K Bal. Incidentally, large chunk of the plumbers, who work in various parts of the country, had arrived at their native homes to be with their families during the calamity. Kendrapara, which bore the brunt .
15 hospitals in Thane sealed for flouting fire safety norms
As many as 15 hospitals have been sealed by the Thane civic body in Maharashtra for flouting fire safety norms, an official has said. The action came after the Bombay High Court last month directed the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) to seal all private hospitals and nursing homes operating without a no- objection certificate (NOC) from the fire department. The court issued the directive while hearing plea claiming that according to a survey conducted by the Thane fire department earlier this year, more than 50 per cent of the private hospitals and nursing homes here were ill-equipped to deal with fire incidents. TMC's chief fire officer Sashikant Kale on Wednesday said following the court's directive, they sealed 15 hospitals in the city in the last couple of days. "These hospitals were first issued notices. When they failed to produce the NOC, we had no option but to seal these health care centres while allowing them to shift patients to other hospitals," he said. He
5 dead in blaze at Pune cloth godown
Five labourers were killed in a fire that broke out in a cloth godown in Uruli Devachi village here on Thursday.Four fire tenders were rushed to the spot where the fire broke out earlier today.The flame has been doused, and those who sustained injuries are undergoing treatment at a hospital here.The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.Further details are awaited.
Air India Mumbai-London flight diverted to Vienna, takes off after over 24-hours
An Air India flight from Mumbai to London was diverted to Vienna due to a technical snag in the aircraft's engine. The flight reached its destination on Wednesday after being delayed for over 24 hours at Vienna airport."Due to a technical issue, Air India 131 Delhi to Heathrow flight was diverted to Vienna airport where it made an emergency landing. A technical team was sent to Vienna to rectify the glitch and now the flight has landed in London," an Air India spokesperson said.The flight that departed from Mumbai at 6:30 am on Tuesday had around 300 passengers on board.
Boeing struggling with Mt. Everest PR challenge
No amount of public relations spin can repair the reputational hit from two deadly plane crashes. But Boeing may have further damaged itself with muddled communications that downplayed its responsibility in the disasters. Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg has insisted there was "no surprise or gap" in the design of the top-selling 737 MAX aircraft, even as the company works to correct issues and persuade regulators that a software update should be enough clear the planes to fly again. The plane has been grounded worldwide since the March 10 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight plunged the company into crisis mode. It came on the heels of an October crash of a Lion Air flight in Indonesia, two accidents that claimed 346 lives. "We own it," Muilenburg has said of the crisis. But some aviation and public relations experts said the Boeing CEO has tried to walk back that buck-stops-here sentiment by blaming the crashes on a "chain of events" with "no singular" cause. "You can't follow ...