Page 925 - Disaster Accident
5.8 magnitude quake strikes 100 miles off California coast
A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck 164 kilometers off the coast of Northern California. There were no immediate reports of damage from the quake Thursday in the Pacific Ocean centered about 115 miles (185.07 kilometers) west of Eureka. The National Tsunami Warning Center says that no tsunami is expected from the quake. The US Geological Survey reported that it struck at 8:39 am PST at a depth of 3 miles (5 kilometers). John Bellini, a seismologist with the agency, says the area is an active seismic region but quakes there are rarely felt because they are so far from the coast.
Crash between bus and taxi kills 14 in Algeria
A collision between a passenger bus and a taxi in Algeria killed 14 people and injured 22 others today, authorities said. The accident occurred at Sfid on a national highway linking the northwestern areas of Saida and El Bayadh, according to the emergency services. The 22 people injured were evacuated to hospital. Accidents claim around 4,000 lives each year on Algeria's roads, mainly due to the failure of motorists to comply with traffic rules.
Passenger train catches fire in UP
A fire broke out on Thursday in the general coach of the Mathura-Kasganj passenger train while it was stationed at Mathura Railway Station.According to media reports, a short-circuit triggered the fire, which was quickly doused with the help of Railway Protection Force (RPF) men who were stationed at the platform.
Fire breaks out in coach of passenger train in Mathura
A fire broke out in an empty coach of Mathura-Kasganj passenger train stationed at the Mathura Junction yard this evening, officials said. No casualty or injury was reported, they said. "The fire broke out at 1915 hours today and was doused at 1930 hours," Sanchit Tyagi, PRO Agra division of the North Central Railways, said. He said the cause of fire appeared to be a short circuit. A probe was ordered into the incident, he said. Tyagi said the train was allowed to move ahead after the coach was disconnected.
Two labourers buried alive in under-construction UP mall
Two labourers were buried alive in an under-construction mall, which belonged to CPI-M leader Atul Singh, in Faizabad on Thursday, police said.
Maha govt comes up with helipad policy
Following a series of near- mishaps of helicopters ferrying Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the recent past, Maharashtra government has framed a 'helipad policy'. The policy, issued by the aviation department of the General Administration Department, lays down that helipads must be demarcated clearly, and should be preferably close to cities but away from densely populated areas. A helicopter should not be started before its VVIP passenger gets on board, it says. It also provides for height restrictions for buildings in the area where a helipad is located, and also that there should be no high-tension electricity wires, television wires and other cables. A helicopter pilot shall not even start the airconditioning before the VVIP boards the aircraft, the policy says, said a senior official from the Aviation department of GAD. Landing helicopters near densely populated areas will not be allowed, he added. "No more entertaining directions from the VVIP to keep the ...
Pakistan SC bans 24 mineral water companies over unclean water
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday banned nationwide sales and distribution by 24 mineral water companies after they failed to meet quality standards.
One killed as two trucks catch fire after collision
A truck driver was burnt alive when his vehicle caught fire after ramming into another truck in Sriganganagar district of Rajathan, police said today. The accident occurred last night when two trucks coming from opposite directions, collided head-on and caught fire, they said. The deceased was identified as Sawant Singh, 30, the police said. A case was registered under relevant sections of the IPC against the driver of the other truck, they said.
Seven killed, four injured after vehicle skids off hill road
At least seven persons were killed and four others injured when their vechile skidded off the road and rolled down into a wayside gorge at Mayudia Pass in Lower Dibang Valley district, police said today. The gorge is rocky and 1,000-meter deep, the police said. The incident happened yesterday morning when the vehicle was travelling from Tinsukia district in Assam to Mayudia in Arunachal Pradesh, the police said. Lower Dibang Valley district Deputy Commissioner Mitali Namchoom said the occupants of the vehicle were on their way to Mayudia, 50 kilometers away from Roing, the district headquarters, to witness snowfall. All the tourists were from Tinsukia district in Assam, Namchoom said. The Army personnel of Dao division rescued four persons, Namchoom said, adding, they were found hanging in the gorge about 300 meters below the accident site. So far, only two bodies could be recovered from the spot, Namchoom said, adding, the bodies were sent to the district hospital for ..
No stunts near rail tracks: Minister
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday appealed to youths to "not perform stunts or take selfies" on or near railway tracks.
Normalcy returning on Thane road where gas tanker overturned
The situation on Ghodbunder Road, on which traffic has been affected since today afternoon due to a gas-laden tanker turning turtle, is slowly getting back to normal, said a senior disaster management control officer. Asmita Nikam of the District Disaster Management Control Room told PTI that the situation was returning to normal and traffic was being allowed to pass through the stretch amidst heavy precaution. She said that technical experts from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, whose load the tanker was carrying, were on the spot to plug the leakage from the tanker and work might get over "anytime now". Fire brigade teams from the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation as well as from Thane are at the site along with a large deployement of police, officials said. Santosh Kadam, chief of the Regional Disaster Management Cell of the Thane Municipal Corporation said that there was no casualty due to the tanker mishap and, as a precaution, people in the vicinity of the .
Chinese mariner diesafter falling into sea from cargo vessel
A 37-year-old Chinese sailor died allegedly after falling into the sea from a cargo vessel off the coast of Vizhinjam harbour near here today. The deceased, identified as Yushiyang, was brought dead to the government medical college hospital here by the Coast Guard officials, a hospital statement said. He was injured after falling from a Chinese ship 'Vivian Ocean', a defence release said. The Coast Guard officials had evacuated Yushiyang after receiving a request from the Chinese vessel, which was 29 nautical miles off Vizhinjam, it said.
Mundka fire under control, two firemen injured
The major fire that broke out in the godown in Mundka on Thursday is now under control, said fire department.A fire officer told ANI that 35 fire tenders were engaged in bringing the fire under control, in which two firemen sustained minor injuries."Thirty-five fire tenders were engaged in the fire-fighting operation. The fire is under control now. Two firemen have sustained minor injuries," the fire officer said.Earlier, a waste godown caught fire at Mundka Swaran Park on Thursday morning.On January 20, 17 people were killed in a fire at a firecracker storage unit in Bawana area in New Delhi.Of the 17 killed, 10 were women. A man and woman were also injured.A Delhi court on Wednesday sent the owner of the firecracker storage to five-day police custody.
Ten injured as fire breaks out in firecracker unit
A fire broke out in a firecracker manufacturing unit in the district leaving ten persons injured, police said today. The unit at Elathur Pathy village near Gobichettipalayam was manufacturing small and low decibel firecrackers usually used for temple festivals, they said. The accident occurred when some fireworks stored inside suddenly exploded, triggering a fire. Ten persons, including the unit owner and his wife, sustained burns, they added. Six persons were admitted to Gobichettipalayam government hospital, while four, who sustained serious burn injuries, were referred to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for further treatment, police said. Fire personnel doused the blaze which damaged a portion of the unit.
Matheran toy train to run entire 21-km stretch from tomorrow
The iconic Matheran toy train, a major tourist attraction, which had partially resumed services nearly three months back, will start chugging on the entire 21-km stretch from tomorrow. Services of the 110-year-old toy train, synonymous with the tourist spot located in the Western Ghats in the neighbouring Raigad district, were suspended in May 2016 following two derailments. However, services on the 2.5-km stretch between Aman Lodge and Matheran had resumed on October 30 last year. The service on the full stretch will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tomorrow. Officials of the Central Railway said that before starting the service, they have put in place a foolproof system for the safety of passengers, including installing crash barriers, gabion walls and boundary walls. "Tourists as well as locals will be able to enjoy the train ride on the entire corridor from tomorrow," a senior CR official said. The suspension of the toy train service had hit ...
China consulting with US on participation in naval drills
China's Defense Ministry says it is consulting with the US over participating in large-scale multinational military exercises being held this summer. Spokesman Wu Qian told reporters at a Thursday briefing that China had already been formally invited to take part in the Pacific Rim drills. China has joined in the exercises twice before, despite frequently complaining about U.S. Navy activity in the South China Sea, which China claims as its territory. The exercises known as RIMPAC are held every other year and in 2016 included 45 ships, 200 aircraft and more than 25,000 people from 26 nations. China brought several vessels, including a hospital ship. U.S. law limits the scope of U.S. military drills with China to areas such as search and rescue and humanitarian and disaster relief.
Haryana govt sets up 26 portable cabins for homeless
In view of the prevailing cold conditions in the state, the Haryana government has installed 26 portable cabins for the urban homeless in nine districts, an official spokesperson said today. The cabins have been set up in Panchkula, Faridabad, Gurugram, Sonipat, Panipat, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Bahadurgarh and Rohtak districts. Besides these, 103 night shelters are being run by district administrations, government departments and social organisations, including the Red Cross, the spokesperson said here. The portable cabins have been set up under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY- NULM). The programme has shelter for the urban homeless as a vital component, she said. These shelters have beds, blankets, store rooms, drinking water facilities and toilets. They are equipped to provide first-aid and residents can avail food at affordable prices, the spokesperson said, adding that a person has been appointed to manage these cabins. She ..
NHIDCL inks MoU with IL&FS for Rs 6,808 cr Zojila tunnel proj
NHIDCL and IL&FS transportation signed an MoU for construction of Zojila tunnel at an estimated cost of Rs 6,808.69 crore, the government said today. The tunnel will provide all weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh. Zojila pass is situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway which remains closed during winters (December to April) due to heavy snowfall and avalanches cutting off Leh-Ladakh region from Kashmir. "An MoU was signed yesterday between National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd for construction of the 14.150 km long, 2-lane bi-directional Zojila Tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir," Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement. The total capital cost of the project is Rs 6,808.69 crore. This will be India's longest road tunnel and the longest bi-directional tunnel in Asia, it ...
MARKET-KOL-HOLIDAYNOTE
: All major markets, including Bullion, Metal, Oil and oilseeds, Food grain and Jaggery will remain closed tomorrow on account of "REPUBLIC DAY".
Three dead, scores injured as train derails in Italy
At least three people were killed and 10 seriously injured when a packed regional train derailed today near Milan in northern Italy, emergency services said. Hours after the crash, rescuers continued to search for passengers inside the wreckage. One of the carriages was lying across the track, bent almost at a right angle. About 100 other people sustained light injuries, Cristina Corbetta, an official with the regional emergency services in Milan, told Sky TG24. She said the incident happened at around 7 am near Segrate in Milan's northeastern suburbs. The cause was not immediately clear. Many of the passengers were travelling to work in Italy's economic capital, or were students. It is the most serious rail accident in Italy since 23 people were killed in a high-speed head-on collision between two passenger trains in July 2016 in the southern Puglia region. The injured were evacuated on stretchers, with the more seriously hurt receiving first aid in a field near the ...