Page 12 - Fire Accident

Hawaii wildfire death toll hits 102 as another victim succumbs to injuries

The death toll from the deadliest US wildfire in over a century, which devastated the historic town of Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui last year, has risen to 102, authorities said Monday. Claudette Heermance, 68, died in hospice care in Honolulu on March 28 of injuries suffered in the fire. The Maui Police Department announced the death, citing information from the Honolulu medical examiner's office. Heermance suffered burns on 20 per cent of her body and her case was complicated by multiple other conditions, said Dr. Masahiko Kobayashi, the Honolulu medical examiner. She was initially taken to Maui's hospital the day of the fire but was flown to Oahu the next day to be treated at the state's only burn unit. She entered hospice nearly four months later. Other causes of death included cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal disease and pressure ulcers, said another official from the medical examiner's office who refused to give her name. The August 8 wildfire was already th

17 injured in hospital, in touch with kin, authorities: MEA on Kuwait fire

Over a week after a devastating fire in Kuwait killed 50 people, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said 17 injured Indians are still admitted in hospitals there and all are stable. The Indian embassy is in touch with the local authorities, the patients and their kin to ensure their well-being, it said. The massive fire had occurred at a seven-storey building in Kuwait's Mangaf city in the southern Ahmadi Governorate on June 12 and at least 45 Indians died in the tragedy. The building was home to 196 migrant workers, mostly Indians. The NBTC Group, where the victims of the fire tragedy were employed, recently issued a statement, extending its deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and injured. In response to a query at a weekly media briefing here, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that on the part of the Kuwaiti government, the Emir has announced USD 15,000 as compensation for the families of the people who have died in the fire incident. The

Pune fire safety check: Regular surveys, training camps held for firemen

Concluding part of the five-part fire-safety series focuses on Pune & Pimpri Chinchwad where fire officials are on their toes to spread awareness among citizens, taking cues from Delhi hospital blaze

Kuwaiti govt to give $15,000 compensation to kin of Mangaf fire victims

The Kuwaiti government will give USD 15,000 each to the families of the victims of the devastating fire that killed 50 people, including 46 Indians, in the southern Ahmadi Governorate, according to a media report on Tuesday. The massive fire which occurred at a seven-storey building in the city of Mangaf on July 12 was caused by an electrical short circuit in the guard's room on the structure's ground floor, according to Kuwaiti authorities. The building was home to 196 migrant workers, mostly Indians. On the orders of the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the victims' families will receive compensation amounting to USD 15,000 each, the Arab Times newspaper reported. Citing government sources, the newspaper said the compensation payments will be processed and delivered to the victims' embassies. Three other deceased were Filipinos, and the identity of one of the victims has not been established. The concerned embassies will then ensure that the funds are .

Tamil Nadu fire safety check: Short circuits in a fire-safe state

The fourth part of the series on fire safety talks about Tamil Nadu's building norms and the violations

Outages, low voltage, fires: Delhi fights power woes with trippy ACs, water

This year, by June 12, the national capital has reported over 339 cases of fires

Rajkot game zone fire: Two civic staffers held for tampering with documents

Two employees of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) have been arrested for allegedly making certain changes in documents pertaining to a game zone after a fire there last month claimed 27 lives, police said on Sunday. With this, 12 persons, including six government employees, have so been arrested in connection with the May 25 incident at the TRP game zone in Gujarat's Rajkot city, they said The city crime branch on Saturday arrested RMC's assistant town planning officer Rajesh Makwana and assistant engineer Jaideep Chaudhary for their alleged involvement in making changes in an official register after the fire incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime, Parthrajsinh Gohil said. "They made certain changes in government documents related to the TRP game zone after the fire incident. They also forged documents," he said. "So far we have arrested six government employees and six other persons in connection with the TRP game zone fire," Gohil said. The four government employee

Major fire engulfs garment, pharma factories in Noida, no casualty reported

A fire ripped through a garment factory here and spread to an adjoining pharmaceutical factory, prompting a major relief operation that lasted for more than eight hours and utilised services of over two dozen water tenders, officials said on Saturday. Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Pradeep Kumar said no one was injured in the incident that took place in B-Block of Sector 67. The fire service unit's control room received an alert call about the fire at 12 noon, he said. "We immediately sent eight vehicles to the spot but found that it was a major fire, which had spread from the garment factory to the adjoining pharmaceutical factory. This pharma factory was shut for the past two years but the items which were stocked inside caught the fire and intensified the blaze," Kumar said. "We had to deploy 28 vehicles and by 8.30 pm we were able to completely extinguish the fire. Fortunately, there was no injury to any person and no loss of life in the incident," the CFO said. Kumar said additiona

Kuwait fire: Company will take care of victims' families, says NBTC MD

K G Abraham, MD of Kuwait-based NBTC Group, whose workers died in the fire accident in one of its accommodations in the Gulf nation, on Saturday said the incident was unfortunate, and the company will take care of the victims' families. Addressing the media here after three days of the tragic fire that killed 49 people, Abraham became emotional and said "we are so sorry". "We are so sorry. We are so sorry. I was crying in my house. I know most of them. There were people working with us for more than 27 years. What happened was really unfortunate," he said. Abraham said that his company directors and managers are currently visiting each and every family member of the deceased and are expressing their grief. "This was not any mistake on our part, but still we will take responsibility. They were living and working with us. They built the company. They are our family," Abraham said. He said discussions were going on with the Embassies for the process of disbursing the compensation. "

Kuwait launches crackdown on illegal property extensions after Mangaf fire

Kuwaiti authorities launch crackdown on illegal property extensions after Mangaf fire

Kuwait fire: Bodies received at Kochi airport, politicians pay tribute

A special IAF aircraft carrying the mortal remains of 45 Indians killed in the tragic fire incident in Kuwait took off for Kochi on Friday morning. At least 49 foreign workers were killed and 50 others injured in the fire on Wednesday at the seven-storey building where 196 migrant workers were staying in the southern city of Mangaf. "A special IAF aircraft carrying mortal remains of 45 Indian victims in the fire incident in Kuwait has taken off for Kochi," The Embassy of India in Kuwait posted on X. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, who coordinated with Kuwaiti authorities to ensure swift repatriation, is onboard the aircraft. Meanwhile, the Public Prosecution in Kuwait ordered the provisional detention of a citizen and some expatriates on charges of manslaughter and accidental injury as a result of negligence in security and safety measures to prevent fire, the Arab Times newspaper reported. Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has ...

Kuwait fire started in building's kitchen at 4 am: How tragedy unfolded

The labour housing facility located in the Mangaf area of Kuwait, where the fire occurred killing at least 40 Indians, is said to be in violation of safety regulations

Kuwait fire: Preparations underway at Kochi airport to receive bodies

An uneasy silence hung over the import cargo terminal of the airport here on Friday morning as authorities made arrangements to receive the bodies of 31 Indians who lost their lives in a tragic building fire in Kuwait two days ago. Ambulances were stationed at the terminal to carry the victims' bodies to their homes. The special flight carrying the bodies of 23 Keralites, seven Tamil Nadu natives, and one Karnataka resident is expected to reach the Cochin International Airport around 10.30 am, Deputy Inspector General, Ernakulam Range, Putta Vimaladitya told the media. India had on Thursday night sent a military transport aircraft to Kuwait to bring back the mortal remains of over 40 Indians killed in the fire. A Kerala Police pilot vehicle will be deputed to accompany all ambulances carrying the bodies, including those going to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Vimaladitya said. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and ministers K Rajan, P Rajeeve and Veena George will receive the bodies at t

Fire erupts in Delhi's Chandni Chowk, 40 tenders deployed, no casualty

A major fire broke out in the Chandni Chowk area of north Delhi on Thursday and spread to several shops, gutting goods and property worth crores of rupees, officials said. No one was reported hurt as yet, they said. "A call related to the fire was received at 5 pm from Chandni Chowk area. The fire was in Marwadi Katra, Nai Sadak in Chandni Chowk," DFS chief Atul Garg said. He said initially 14 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, but later 26 more vehicles were pressed into service. "Our teams were working at the site and trying to douse the flames. The fire is massive and the operation may take more time to douse the flames completely. So far, we have not received any injury to anyone," Garg said. He further said that he himself visited the site for supervision of the entire operation. Talking with PTI, he said, "Now we are using a water bowser to douse the flames. We have rushed more than 10 fire vehicles. We are also taking precautions so that the fire can be contained at the

Kuwait Emir vows to hold those responsible for fire that killed 49 people

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Wednesday ordered authorities to probe the massive fire at an apartment building housing foreign workers, mostly Indians, and vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the tragedy that killed at least 49 people. Around 50 people, the majority of Indians, were killed in the fire early Wednesday in a six-storey building housing labourers in southern Kuwait, according to the latest reports. Director General of the Forensic Department Maj Gen Eid Al-Owaihan said that the majority of the deceased were Indian nationals from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and north Indian states. In a condolence message sent to the families of the victims of the fire incident in Mangaf, the Emir expressed his sincere sorrow and deep sympathy to the families of the victims and wished a fast recovery to the injured. The Emir directed officials to follow up to the causes of the fire outbreak and hold whomever responsible accountable, the official Kuwait

Three workers dead, 6 injured in fire in Narela food processing unit

Three workers died and six others were injured after a fire broke out and caused a blast in a food processing unit in the early hours of Saturday in the Narela Industrial Area here , the Delhi Police said. They said they received a distress call at 3.35 am about the fire in the Shayam Kripa Foods Private Ltd that processes dry moong dal. The fire engulfed the factory, trapping some workers in it, the official said. Fourteen fire tenders were pressed into service and the dousing operation was still underway, a Delhi Fire Service (DFS) official said around 8.30 am. He said nine people were rescued from inside the building and shifted to SHRC Hospital in Narela. Three of them -- Shyam (24), Ram Singh (30) and Beerpal (42) -- were declared dead, while others were under treatment, the police officer said. He said preliminary investigation suggest that the blaze started after a gas leak from one of the pipelines. The gas was supplied to burners used for roasting moong dal. As the fire

Fire breaks out in Daulatpur-Sabarmati express train, none injured

A minor fire broke out in a third-ac coach of Daulatpur-Sabarmati express train near Khatipura station in Rajasthan's Jaipur on Friday. All passengers are safe and the train left after a delay of one hour, said North Western Railway spokesperson Captain Shashi Kiran. The exact cause of the fire, which broke out near the toilet, was not immediately known, he said. The spokesperson said that a passenger immediately pulled the chain and the coach attendant with the help of other passengers controlled the fire. The coach was detached and the passengers were shifted to other coaches, he said. The incident occurred between Khatipura and Jagatpura railway stations. The matter is being investigated.

Watchman dead, over 40 girl students rescued from fire in Pune hostel

A watchman died and more than 40 girl students were rescued after a fire broke out in a five-storey building that houses a hostel in Shanipar area of Maharashtra's Pune city in the wee hours of Friday, officials said. The incident occurred around 1.30 am, said Pune Municipal Corporation's chief fire officer Devendra Potphode. Forty-two girl students who were living in the hostel on the second floor of the building were evacuated following the fire, he said. "The fire brigade received a call about the fire in a five-storey building. After our team reached the spot, it was found that the blaze had erupted at an accounting academy on the ground floor," Potphode said. By the time the fire brigade team reached the site, people in the area evacuated the girl students in the hostel, he said. When the fire was being doused on the ground floor, one person in his early 40s was found dead there with the death apparently being caused by burn injuries, he added. Deputy Commissioner of Police

Fire at displacement camp in Congo leaves many families without shelter: UN

A fire at a displacement camp in eastern Congo destroyed around 50 makeshift tents, leaving dozens of families without shelter, according to the United Nations, which said the fire is believed to have started during cooking at a camp. The Muganga displaced people camp near the provincial capital Goma was hit by fire Wednesday. It had already endured bomb attacks in early May, which killed at least 18 people and injured 32 others, a U.N. spokesman said. It wasn't clear what type of explosives were used in those attacks. Most of the victims were women and children. While I was trying to empty the house of my valuables, I couldn't save my most precious items: my tokens to receive various humanitarian assistance, Anne Marie Nikuze, 60, a displaced person living in the camp with her children and grandchildren told The Associated Press. The little we had has also gone up in flames, she said. We escaped the recent bomb attacks and now, it's the fire that has struck us, Furaha Mulema Mariam

Massive fire erupts at an eye hospital in Delhi's Lajpat Nagar, no injuries

A major fire broke out at a private eye hospital in southeast Delhi's Lajpat Nagar area on Wednesday, officials said. There are no reports of anyone being injured so far, a Delhi Fire Services (DFS) official said. Police said it is suspected that a short circuit on the ground floor of the two-storey building caused the fire. The call regarding the fire at Eye7 Chaudhary Eye Centre was received at 11.30 am and 12 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. Later, four more were pressed into service. The firefighting operation is underway, the DFS official said. According to the officials, those inside the hospital rushed out as soon as the fire broke out. Several videos of the hospital fire are doing the rounds on social media. One of the videos showed the hospital building engulfed in flames and thick plumes of smoke rising in the sky.