Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for November 20, 2010

Sikh pilgrims’ tents in Pakistan catches fire; no casualties

ISLAMABAD – At least 20 tents of Sikh pilgrims were burnt to ashes in Pakistan’s Nankana Sahib city where they had gone to participate in the 542nd birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak, a media report said Saturday. No casualties were reported.

“Rescue officials and fire brigade have reached the spot and the situation … Read more >>>.

Bank officer robbed of car, mobile in Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH – The senior manager of a nationalised bank was robbed of his car and mobile by gun-wielding youths in Chandigarh’s Sector 8, one of the busiest stretches of this union territory, police said Saturday.

According to police, the victim was identified as Gyan Chand Kaushik, 55, who worked as senior manager at the State …. Original source  : Bank officer robbed of car, mobile in Chandigarh.

MCD seeks more time to enquire on building collapse

NEW DELHI – The Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s chief vigilance officer has sought more time to complete the enquiry into the building collapse in east Delhi four days ago, an official said Friday.

The civic body Tuesday ordered a vigilance probe a day after the illegal five-storeyed building collapsed killing 69 people and …. Source  : MCD seeks more time to enquire on building collapse.

Girl electrocuted while plucking flowers in school

LUCKNOW – The manager of a private school in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district was booked Friday in connection with the death of a minor girl, who got electrocuted while plucking flowers from the flower bed in the school garden, which had been connected to a live wire by the school administration.

Twelve-year-old Radha Singh was …. Source article  : Girl electrocuted while plucking flowers in school.

Delhi Police do not help stop illegal construction: MCD

NEW DELHI – The blame game continues even four days after the east Delhi building collapse. A senior Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) official Friday blamed Delhi Police for not providing enough force to the civic body in its campaign to stop encroachments and spread of unauthorised buildings.

“Whenever Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) chalks … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Delhi Police do not help stop illegal construction: MCD.

La Marts principal, 3 teachers charged with abetting Rawla’s suicide

KOLKATA – A city court Friday ordered that the principal and three teachers of the prestigious La Martiniere School for Boys be slapped with an additional charge of abetting the suicide of class 8 student Rouvanjit Rawla.

The 12th metropolitan judge of the Bankshall court, Apurva Kumar Ghosh ordered reframing of charges following an appeal … Read more »».

Russian fighter crashes, crew untraced

Moscow, Nov 19 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A MiG-31 Foxhound fighter aircraft crashed Friday in Russia’s Perm region. Though the two crew members ejected safely, they were yet to be located, officials said.

A security official confirmed the crash. He said the plane “was not carrying any weapons” and posed no danger to residential areas.
Defence Ministry … Original article on : Russian fighter crashes, crew untraced.

Zardari stays execution of Christian woman

ISLAMABAD – Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari Friday stayed the execution of a Christian woman who was sentenced to death on charges of blasphemy.

The woman, Aasia Bibi, was given the death sentence by an additional sessions judge in Nankana Sahib district a week ago on charges of committing blasphemy under the Pakistan Penal Code.
…. Source  : Zardari stays execution of Christian woman.

Indian-origin teacher found guilty of sex with students

LONDON – An Indian-origin woman has been found guilty of sexual misconduct after she confessed she had sex with two 15-year-old students earlier this year, a media report said Friday.

Hina Patel, a 37-year-old teacher at Birkdale High School for Boys in Merseyside, Friday pleaded guilty to two charges of abusing her position of trust [..] Read the original article: here.

Building collapse: NHRC issues notices to Delhi government, MCD

NEW DELHI – The Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) have been issued notices by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over the collapse of a five-storey building in east Delhi in which at least 69 people were killed and several injured, a NHRC statement said Friday.

“The commission has taken …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Building collapse: NHRC issues notices to Delhi government, MCD.

Fake passport case: Court sentences Salem to four years jail

BHOPAL – A court in the Madhya Pradesh capital Friday sentenced underworld don Abu Salem to four years jail in a 2001 fake passport case. However, he will spend less then a year in prison as he has already been imprisoned for more than three years.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Ram Gopal Singh also slapped a … Read : Fake passport case: Court sentences Salem to four years jail.

Koda aide remanded in ED custody for 12 days

RANCHI – A Ranchi court Friday sent Vinod Sinha, a close aide of jailed former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, to 12 days of Enforcement Directorate (ED) remand.

The Enforcement Directorate had moved a petition in the Prevention of Money laundering Act (PMLA) court of G.K. Singh, seeking 14 days of remand for Vindo Sinha. … Read : Koda aide remanded in ED custody for 12 days.

Building collapse nightmare for local residents

NEW DELHI – Even four days after the building collapse in east Delhi, three-year-old Asthmi still shivers on hearing a small thud and starts weeping. It’s not just her, but the accident has also turned into a nightmare for other residents of the area.

The collapse Monday of the illegal five-storey building in Lalita Park … Read more >>>.

Abu Salem gets four years jail in fake passport case

BHOPAL – A court in the Madhya Pradesh capital Friday sentenced underworld don Abu Salem to four years jail in a 2001 fake passport case.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Ram Gopal Singh also slapped a fine of Rs.10,000 on Salem.
The court Tuesday convicted Salem under section 471 of the Indian Penal Code and 12A …. Source  : Abu Salem gets four years jail in fake passport case.

Delhi building collapse shatters dreams in Bengal village (Lead, superseding earlier story)

MALDA/MURSHIDABAD – A phone call from her grandson Biswajit was the last time that Ashalata Halder heard from him. Two days later, Ashalata was shattered to learn that six of of her family, including Biswajit, had perished in the Delhi building collapse.

Ashalata, in her seventies, received a phone call from Biswajit late Monday night … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Delhi building collapse shatters dreams in Bengal village (Lead, superseding earlier story).

Child rights commission takes up rehabilitation of orphans

NEW DELHI – Six children, including a brother-sister duo, left orphaned in the east Delhi building collapse should be provided the services of a counsellor to help them cope with the trauma, the Delhi Commission of Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has said.

The child rights organisation has issued notice to the Delhi chief secretary …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Child rights commission takes up rehabilitation of orphans.

12 defence personnel killed as IAF chopper crashes in Arunachal (Lead, changing dateline)

TAWANG – Twelve Indian defence personnel – 11 of them from the air force – were killed in a helicopter crash Friday in Arunachal Pradesh close to the Chinese border, officials said.

A defence spokesperson said the MI-17 helicopter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed around midday soon after take off from Tawang, perched …. Read the original article  : 12 defence personnel killed as IAF chopper crashes in Arunachal (Lead, changing dateline).

Chinese worker trapped under sea for 18 hours

BEIJING – A Chinese worker has been trapped in a one-metre diameter canister under sea for almost 18 hours as the rescue work continues, a media report said Friday.

The accident occurred around 9 a.m. Thursday off the coast of China’s eastern Zhejiang province, when the steel shielding canister in which he was working, deformed …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Chinese worker trapped under sea for 18 hours.

Bodies found in tree hollow in US

WASHINGTON – The bodies of three people who disappeared last week were found in a tree hollow in the US state of Ohio, days after the teenage daughter of one of the victims was rescued, a media report said Friday.

The remains of Tina Herrmann, 32, her 10-year-old son, Kody Maynard, and her 41-year-old … Read : Bodies found in tree hollow in US.