Page 927 - Disaster Accident
IL&FS to explore idea of rail alignment inside upcoming Zojila tunnel
Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday urged infra major IL&FS to explore the possibility of laying a rail alignment while constructing India's longest tunnel highway at Zojila in Jammu and Kashmir.
Hyundai recalls nearly 88K older cars due to fire risk
Hyundai is recalling nearly 88,000 cars in the US because an electrical short in the antilock brake system could cause engine compartment fires. The recall affects certain 2006 Sonatas and 2006 through 2011 Azeras. Hyundai says in government documents that water can get into the antilock brake module, which can overheat and cause a fire even when the cars are turned off. It was not clear if the cars should be parked outside until repairs are made. Dealers will install a relay in the main electrical box to shut down the antilock brake modules while the cars are turned off. But it was unclear if the fix would solve the problem of electrical shorts while the engines are on. Hyundai said it may provide more guidance Wednesday. A message also was left for a spokesman at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the government's auto safety watchdog agency. The recall should begin Feb 23. Documents show one overheated module in South Korea and one fire in the US, but
JK Assembly passes grants for disaster management
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today passed the grants amounting to over Rs 1467.28 crore for disaster management, relief rehabilitation, reconstruction and floriculture departments. The grants were passed by voice vote this evening amid protests by opposition members over the killing of a civilian, following an ongoing encounter between militants and security forces in Shopian district of south Kashmir. Minister for disaster management, relief and rehabilitation and floriculture Javaid Mustafa Mir said J-K being vulnerable to natural disasters owing to unique geo- climatic conditions and geographic location, the state government has devised a multi-pronged roadmap to deal with any eventuality. "Over the past two years, the government has brought about a paradigm shift in the approach to disaster management. Development cannot be sustainable unless disaster mitigation is built into the development process," he said. The minister said the government has learnt lessons ...
LPG tanker overturns on NH, people from nearby areas evacuated
An LPG tanker overturned on the national highway at a nearby village tonight, leaking gas, following which people from the area were evacuated to safer areas, police said. The driver, who suffered minor injuries, has been hospitalised. Police said the man lost control of his vehicle while negotiating a curve on the road at Vattapara at around 7.30 PM and it overturned. Following the accident, vehicular traffic on the national highway on the Kozhikode-Thrissur route was diverted through other areas, police said.
Govt urges manufacturing sector to have more behavioural
The government today urged the manufacturing sector to implement more number of Behavioural Safety Codes as recommended by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to avoid industrial accidents. "The government is taking more positive approach towards the industrialisation and urges the industry to implement more number of Behavioural Safety Codes recommended by the ILO to avoid industrial accidents," Ministry of Labour, Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (FASLI) Director General Avneesh Singh said here. Inaugurating the 2nd National Conference of the Forum of Behavioural Safety (BESAFE) here, Singh said as of now only 43 Codes have been recognised out of the total 188 codes stipulated by the ILO. The Behaviour Based Safety (BBS) is in very initial stage and will require more time for its implementation in various sectors of the Indian economy, Singh added. In his welcome speech, BESAFE Director H L Kaila said around 12 lakh people die in India alone every ..
HP govt directs officials to restore roads, power supply
Residents of Himachal Pradesh heaved a sigh of relief with the improvement in weather as authorities expedited efforts to open roads and restore power supply. As many as 75 roads were blocked due to snowfall in various parts of the state while 66 roads have been opened and the remaining nine roads would be opened tomorrow, Onkar Sharma, Principal Secretary (Disaster Management) said here today. Sharma directed the deputy commissioners and line departments to ensure adequate arrangements of essential commodities such as LPG cylinders, petrol and diesel in the remote areas. He directed the PWD, Irrigation and Public Health Department (IPH) and State Electricity Board to ensure immediate restoration of roads, water supply and electricity. Sharma also directed the PWD to deploy adequate man power and machinery to ensure early restoration of roads, and asked the IPH department to ensure that there is no disruption in water supply to snow-bound areas.
Japan commits Rs 2,587 cr loan to Bengaluru water supply project
The Central government on Wednesday said the Japanese government has committed to an official development assistance loan of approximately Rs 2,587 crore for Phase 3 (I) of the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Project.
2017 second-costliest year on record for natural-disaster insured losses: Aon
(Reuters) - Insured losses in the private sector and government-sponsored programmes from natural disasters came to $134 billion in 2017, making it the second-costliest year on record, broker Aon Benfield said on Wednesday.
Car catches fire during anti-Padmaavat protests in Bhopal
A car caught fire during anti- Padmaavat protests in the city this evening, with the police saying they were investigating whether the protesters torched the vehicle. The car went up in flames at Jyoti Talkies Square, one of the busiest crossings in Bhopal. The protesters were trying to stage a road blockade when the incident took place. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the flames. However, a major portion of the car was already burnt by the time the fire tender reached the spot. Talking to PTI, Bhopal DIG Dharmendra Choudhary said: "A car caught fire during the protests. It is a matter of investigation whether the vehicle was torched or it caught fire." "We have detained three protesters from Jyoti Talkies Square in this connection," he added. The road has been cleared, Choudhary said adding, "We are trying to know that who owns this car." Another police officer claimed that the car belonged to one of the protesters. Further investigation is on.
Thousands more flee erupting Philippine volcano
Tens of thousands more people have fled an erupting volcano in the Philippines, relief workers said today, as foreign tourists arrived to watch the flaming lava and giant clouds spurting from its crater. More than 70,000 residents are now crammed in schools and other buildings, a figure that has nearly doubled over the past three days, officials said, two weeks after Mayon volcano began showing signs of activity. Volcanologists on Monday warned of a hazardous eruption within days and a no-go zone was extended from six kilometres of the crater to nine kilometres, forcing even those beyond it to flee homes being pounded by a rain of ash. "They were not in the danger zone but they are scared," Cedric Daep, the head of the civil defence office of Albay province told AFP, adding about 360,000 people, or a third of the province's one million residents have been breathing in volcanic ash. At some shelters, evacuees are sleeping on the floor, with as many as 50 people sharing a
Samsung ropes in students for 'Safe India Campaign'
Creating awareness about the dangers associated with the irresponsible smartphone use, including the selfie craze, Samsung India on Wednesday announced the next phase of its 'Safe India' campaign which also covers school and colleges students.
UP to ensure security to theatres showing 'Padmaavat'
The Uttar Pradesh government will ensure safety to theatres running the much-awaited movie "Padmaavat", Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh said on Wednesday.
Kerala temple damaged in fire, police probing cause
A major fire broke out at the famed Vilwadrinatha temple near here probably due to a burning lamp, damaging the shrine, police said on Wednesday. There was no report of casualties.
30 injured as bus turns turtle on Delhi-Dehradun highway
At least 30 persons, including women, were injured when a bus turned turtle on Delhi-Dehradun national highway here, police said today. The accident occurred last evening near Mansurpur village and the injured were admitted to a nearby hospital, they said. The bus carrying over 50 passengers was going to Balaji in Rajasthan from Saharanpur. Meanwhile, a body was found hanging from a tree near Sikanderpur village on Budhana-Khatoli road in the district yesterday. The deceased was identified as Jaivir Singh, police said, adding that the body has been sent for post mortem and further investigations are on.
Four killed, 32 injured as bus skids off bridge in Odisha
At least four persons were killed and 32 others injured when the bus in which they were travelling skidded off a bridge and fell into a canal in Sambalpur district, police said today. The mishap took place yesterday night near Goudapalli village on the national highway 6 when the bus was on its way to Rairangpur from Sambalpur. The bus fell off the bridge and fell into the canal as the driver lost control over the vehicle, they said. Four persons died on the spot while the injured passengers were rushed to the district headquarters hospital here and Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla, the police said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for kin of those killed in the accident. He also announced free medical checkup for the injured passengers.
Search for landmine in border areas of Lawngtlai district
Assam Rifles personnel have sent their bomb disposal squad to areas bordering Myanmar in Lawngtlai district after a villager was killed and another injured by landmines, an official said today. Deputy Commissioner of Lawngtlai district, Arun T told PTI over phone that Assam Rifles have sent their bomb disposal squad to search for landmines in the areas bordering Myanmar. The Assam Rifles had yesterday issued an advisory asking the people in the area not to venture in the border areas as there was strong possibility of the presence of more concealed landmines in the border areas. Khusoma (37), a resident of Kawnkhaw hamlet near the Myanmar border in Lawngtlai district was severely injured by the landmine on January 18 and she succumbed to her injuries on January 19. Another person Jitua Tongchongya was seriously injured in a landmine blast near Mizoram-Myanmar border pillar number two on January 15.
Fresh tremors halt search ops after Japan volcano eruption
New volcanic activity today forced Japanese police to suspend search operations a day after an eruption near a popular ski resort that killed a soldier and injured several other people. A group of 50 police officers and rescue workers had been combing the area beneath Mt. Kusatsu Shirane on Wednesday morning, a day after the surprise eruption. "But we stopped it as volcanic tremors were detected," a Japanese police official told AFP. "We'll discuss with experts to see if we'll resume our operation," he said. There had not been any reports of missing people after the deadly eruption on Tuesday, which sent rocks and ash tumbling down the snow-covered slope of the volcano towards a ski resort below. A group of around 80 people who had been stranded at the top of the mountain were rescued during the day Tuesday. But police and rescue workers combed the area today in case anyone had been left behind. A soldier from Japan's Self-Defense Forces was killed in the incident, and ...
Blast in Arunachal Pradesh's Namsai
A blast rocked Arunachal Pradesh's Namsai district on Wednesday.However, there is no report of any casualties or injuries.Meanwhile, a search operation has been launched in the area.Further details are awaited.
Bus gutted in UP road accident, 1 dead
A woman was killed on Wednesday when a Uttar Pradesh Roadways bus caught fire after a bike rammed into it, police said. The victim was riding pillion on the bike and was killed on the spot.
U.S. investigators to probe crash between Tesla vehicle, fire truck
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on Tuesday it was sending two investigators to examine the crash of a Tesla Inc vehicle apparently travelling in semi-autonomous mode and a fire truck in California.