Thursday, February 18, 2010

Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for February 17, 2010

Wednesday, February 17, 2010


Maoist strike hits five Bihar districts
PATNA – Normal life was partially hit in five districts of Bihar Wednesday following a strike called by Maoists to denounce the alleged killing of over half a dozen guerrillas.

There was mixed response to the strike in Banka, Bhagalpur, Jamui, Munger and Lakhisarai districts, officials said. Additional Director General of Police U.S. Dutt said the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Maoist strike hits five Bihar districts.

Koda scam: Raids continue, valuable documents seized
RANCHI – For the second day in a row, income tax officials Wednesday raided the properties of several senior officials, including Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren’s personal secretary, in connection with the Rs.2,500 crore money laundering scam involving former chief minister Madhu Koda.

“Raids are going on at a few places while at some places they …. Read the original article  : here.

Two engineering students held with heroin worth Rs.10 mn
LUCKNOW – Two engineering students have been arrested with heroin worth Rs.10 million (Rs.1 crore) in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district, police said Wednesday.

Deepak Rawat and Danish, both in their third year of Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) in a private engineering college, were nabbed Tuesday night from Panchwati colony of Bulandshahr, some 400 km from … Read : Two engineering students held with heroin worth Rs.10 mn.

Four hymn singers killed as car rams into truck
CHANDIGARH – Four ‘raagis’ (Sikh hymn singers) were killed Wednesday morning when their car rammed into a stationary truck near Punjab’s industrial town of Mandi Gobindgarh, 60 km from here.

Police officials said the victims died on the spot as their Indica car rammed into the truck which was parked outside a dhaba (eatery) along National …. Source  : Four hymn singers killed as car rams into truck.

Afghan military official says Taliban increasingly using civilians as human shields in Marjah

Afghan official: Taliban using human shields

MARJAH, Afghanistan – Taliban fighters are increasingly using civilians as human shields in the assault on the southern town of Marjah, an Afghan official said Wednesday as military squads resumed painstaking house-to-house searches in the Taliban stronghold.
About 15,000 NATO and Afghan troops are taking part in the offensive around Marjah, …. Source  : Afghan military official says Taliban increasingly using civilians as human shields in Marjah.

French leader brings reconstruction plan to Haiti, but bitter memories of ex-colonizer remain

French leader brings reconstruction plan to Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – President Nicolas Sarkozy is bringing a French plan to rebuild Haiti with him on Wednesday’s visit to the Caribbean country, a trip officials hope will usher in a new era between France and its former colony.
Some Haitians are welcoming France’s new interest in their earthquake-shattered nation … Read more >>>.

Teenage rape victim turns suicidal, abusive
PANAJI – A girl who was allegedly raped by a Goa cabinet minister’s son in 2008 when she was 14 has since slashed her wrists, attacked her mother with a knife and has needed constant psychiatric care and counselling, the mother has told a court here.

The statement to the Goa children’s court by …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Teenage rape victim turns suicidal, abusive.

Afghan police: 4 policemen killed in roadside bomb in Kandahar province

Afghan police: 4 policemen killed by roadside bomb

KABUL – Afghan officials say four policemen have been killed and four others wounded when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan.
The Afghan Interior Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that the four were killed Tuesday in the Reg district of Kandahar province.
Kandahar province is next … Read more >>>.

US military has edge in technology against Afghan insurgents relying on primitive methods

Taliban armory: Rocks, potshots and drawings

BADULA QULP, Afghanistan – The bullet made a zipping, or fizzing sound. American soldiers, relaxing beside their vehicles and backpacks without body armor or helmets, looked around, bewildered. A moment passed. Then another zip, fizz. And another.
“They’re shooting at us,” a soldier said incredulously. Laughing, giddy almost, they moved behind …. Read the original article  : here.

Ricky Martin turns spotlight on human trafficking
San Juan, Feb 17 (IANS/EFE) Singer Ricky Martin has presented a study on human trafficking in Puerto Rico in which he said that people were trying to sell minors on the Internet and trade them for cases of beer.

“It’s a reality that is very difficult for me to accept and which I don’t want to …. Original article  : Ricky Martin turns spotlight on human trafficking.

22 killed as bus falls into river in Uttar Pradesh
LUCKNOW – At least 22 people on their way to a wedding were killed and 30 injured when the bus they were travelling in fell into a river in Uttar Pradeshs Jalaun district, an official said Wednesday.

The mishap took place after midnight at Jalauns Maharajpura village that shares a border with Madhya Pradesh. The bus …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 22 killed as bus falls into river in Uttar Pradesh.

Five found decapitated next to Mexican school
Mexico City, Feb 17 (IANS/EFE) Five men were found decapitated next to a primary school in the western Mexican state of Sinaloa, authorities said.

The victims, whose severed heads were left nearby, bore signs of torture, the state Attorney General’s Office said Tuesday, adding that the remains were discovered shortly after dawn in the town of …. Read the original article  : Five found decapitated next to Mexican school.

Colombia nabs militiaman charged with 2,500 killings
Bogota, Feb 17 (IANS/EFE) A fugitive Colombian militia commander accused of involvement in some 2,500 murders has been arrested, the Attorney General’s Office said.

Arnolfo Santamaria Galindo, who formerly led a paramilitary unit in the southern province of Putumayo, was arrested in the Bogota suburb of Soacha, prosecutor Luis Gonzalez told the media.
Roughly 32,000 members … Original article on : Colombia nabs militiaman charged with 2,500 killings.

‘Haiti reconstruction will cost $14 bn’
Washington, Feb 16 (IANS/EFE) The earthquake that devastated Haiti Jan 12 caused damages of between $8 billion and $14 billion, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has said in a study. It estimates that the cost of rebuilding could reach close to $14 billion.

The study released Tuesday makes a preliminary analysis of the damages that the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : ‘Haiti reconstruction will cost $14 bn’.

Inmates’ relatives occupy two Venezuelan prisons
Caracas, Feb 17 (IANS/EFE) Relatives of inmates in two Venezuelan prisons decided to remain inside the facilities to protest the alleged “mistreatment” of their loved ones by the guards and procedural delays in bringing their cases to court, the media reported.

At the La Planta detention centre in west Caracas, about 150 women decided to remain …. Source  : Inmates’ relatives occupy two Venezuelan prisons.

Man who held ex-wife hostage for three days surrenders
Rio de Janeiro, Feb 17 (IANS/EFE) A security guard who held his ex-wife hostage for three days in the southern Brazilian city of Canoas set her free and surrendered to the police, authorities said.

Rodrigo Luciano Luz, 32, chose to give himself up after holding the woman hostage for 70 hours and after intense negotiations with … Read more >>>.

Security beefed up in Orissa
BHUBANESWAR – Security has been strengthened around vital installations in Orissa after 24 policemen were killed in a Maoist attack Monday in neighbouring West Bengal and ten people were killed in a blast triggered by terrorists Saturday in Maharashtra’s Pune city.

“Security has been beefed up around all the places in the state which are vulnerable … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Security beefed up in Orissa.

At least 6 seriously hurt when car plows into crowd at north Georgia auto auction

Ga. car auction crash seriously hurts at least 6

ELLIJAY, Ga. – A car being shown at a north Georgia auto auction plowed into the crowd and sent a dozen people to the hospital, including at least six with serious injuries.
Georgia State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright says the accelerator apparently stuck as the car was being …. Original article  : At least 6 seriously hurt when car plows into crowd at north Georgia auto auction.

Body of man who fell into volcano recovered
SAN FRANCISCO – Rescuers have recovered the body of a 52-year-old man who died after falling 500 meters into the Mount Saint Helens volcano in the US state of Washington, authorities said.

Hope had been fading for the avid climber after helicopter crews reported that they had not observed any signs of movement.
“The pilot did … Original source on Gaea Times at : Body of man who fell into volcano recovered.

2 workers died after being trapped in trench collapse near Oklahoma tribal casino

2 workers killed when trench collapses in Oklahoma

McLOUD, Okla. – Authorities say two construction workers have died after becoming trapped in a collapsed trench east of Oklahoma City.
Jacktown Fire Chief Greg Ford says the accident happened about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of U.S. Highway 62 and Oklahoma 102 near the Kickapoo Casino.
Ford says …. Source  : 2 workers died after being trapped in trench collapse near Oklahoma tribal casino.

NH hotel reopens day after boiler room toxic-gas leak sickened 2 workers, 9 guests by the pool

NH hotel reopens day after gas leak sickened 11

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – A New Hampshire hotel has reopened after a faulty boiler room vent leaked enough toxic gas to sicken 11 people and prompt an evacuation.
The Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Portsmouth was closed Monday morning after two workers and nine guests hanging out near the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : NH hotel reopens day after boiler room toxic-gas leak sickened 2 workers, 9 guests by the pool.

Southwest pilot takes evasive action to avoid collision in SoCal, 2 flight attendants injured

Pilot takes evasive action to avoid collision

BURBANK, Calif. – The Federal Aviation Administration says two flight attendants were injured when a Southwest Airlines pilot took sudden evasive action to avoid a collision with a private plane near Burbank over the weekend.
FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said Tuesday the pilot of Southwest Flight 2534 from Las Vegas …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Southwest pilot takes evasive action to avoid collision in SoCal, 2 flight attendants injured.

Sheriff: Body of climber who fell into Mount St. Helens crater recovered

Climber’s body recovered in St. Helens crater

SEATTLE – The body of a veteran climber who fell 1,500 feet into the crater atop Mount St. Helens was recovered Tuesday after he spent more than a day in the snow, authorities said.
Clouds and wind had hampered efforts to reach Joseph Bohlig, 52, who was posing for a … Read : Sheriff: Body of climber who fell into Mount St. Helens crater recovered.

Bad weather, a fenced-off flame: It’s one problem after another at a limping Olympics

A glitch for every gold at the Vancouver Games

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – From fire to ice, nothing seems to be going right at the Olympics.
The torch malfunctioned. Warm weather turned the slopes and the event schedule to slop. A Zamboni had to ride to the rescue from Calgary following a meltdown at the speedskating rink.
By … Read : Bad weather, a fenced-off flame: It’s one problem after another at a limping Olympics.

Jacobellis flubs in the snowboardcross course again, this time in semis; US hockey wins opener

Another Olympic flub by Jacobellis; US hockey wins

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Lindsey Jacobellis had to do it. Flying through the air toward the finish line, she reached down and grabbed her snowboard, a stunt similar to the showoff move that cost her a gold medal four years ago.
This time, it was all she could do … Read : Jacobellis flubs in the snowboardcross course again, this time in semis; US hockey wins opener.

ND officials scramble to save statewide social services hot line ahead of flood season

ND scrambles to save hot line ahead of floods

BISMARCK, N.D. – When the Red River burst its banks last spring, flooding dozens of surrounding towns and cities, thousands of worried or displaced residents called a statewide 211 hot line to help find shelter or a meal.
But the nonprofit group that operates the service, which provides … Read more : ND officials scramble to save statewide social services hot line ahead of flood season.

Police: Ga. Mother drowned daughter, tried to kill son, then fatally shot herself

Police: Ga. mother drowned daughter, killed self

BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Authorities say a Georgia woman drowned her daughter, tried to drown her son and then fatally shot herself in the chest.
Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering says Julia Murray called 911 Tuesday morning to say she had drowned her two children and asked for an ambulance. … Original source on Gaea Times at : Police: Ga. Mother drowned daughter, tried to kill son, then fatally shot herself.

Helicopter bucks bad weather in search for climber who fell into Mount St. Helens crater

Helicopter bucks bad weather in search for climber

SEATTLE – A Navy helicopter made two passes Tuesday at Mount St. Helens trying to rescue a veteran climber whose chances of survival were dimming after he fell 1,500 feet into the dormant crater and spent more than a day in the snow.
Clouds and wind hampered efforts to … Read more »»».

APNewsBreak: 1st federally sanctioned prison cell phone jamming test takes place in Maryland

APNewsBreak: Feds allow prison phone jamming test

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Equipment that jams cell phones will get its first federally sanctioned test inside a prison in Maryland this week, as state officials try to show Congress how the technology can prevent inmates from using the contraband devices to commit crimes, a governor’s spokesman said Tuesday.
The state …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Officials: Preliminary reviews fail to show what might have caused deadly Conn. blast

Officials: No info yet on cause of Conn. blast

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Preliminary reviews by several state agencies have failed to reveal any problems that could have caused a Connecticut power plant to explode earlier this month, killing five people and wounding a dozen others.
The head of the state’s public utility regulator said Tuesday that … Read more : Officials: Preliminary reviews fail to show what might have caused deadly Conn. blast.

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