Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for November 21, 2010

Five dead as car falls into Maharashtra river

MUMBAI – Five people were killed after their car fell into a river alongside the Mumbai-Pune highway near New Panvel, police said here Sunday.

“We suspect the driver lost control, and the car fell into the river last night,” a police officer told IANS.
The bodies and the vehicle were recovered Sunday morning, he added.
…. Original source  : Five dead as car falls into Maharashtra river.

Seven killed as bomb explodes in Bihar (Second Lead)

PATNA – At least seven people, mostly children, were killed and around half a dozen seriously injured Sunday morning when a cylinder bomb exploded at Pachokhar village in Bihar’s Aurangabad district, police said.

The bomb was recovered during the final phase of the Bihar assembly polls Saturday but the police had failed to defuse it. … Read : Seven killed as bomb explodes in Bihar (Second Lead).

Natural disasters since 1970 take heavy toll in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – A string of natural disasters, including floods and earthquakes, have left over 3.3 million people dead and caused a staggering loss of $2,300 billion between 1970 and 2008 in Pakistan, said a new book.

The book “Natural Hazards, UN-Natural Disasters: The Economics of Effective Prevention” said that a lot could be done to … Original article on : Natural disasters since 1970 take heavy toll in Pakistan.

Over 2,500 kids went missing in Karachi last year

KARACHI – More than 2,500 children were reported as missing in Karachi last year, an NGO has revealed.

Roshni Helpline, an NGO that deals with childrens’ rights, said that as many as 2,582 children went missing in Karachi and these figures don’t include the many disappearances that are not reported by their families.
Our … Original source on Gaea Times at : Over 2,500 kids went missing in Karachi last year.

Laboratory producing cocaine found in Bogota

Bogota, Nov 21 (IANS/EFE) A laboratory for producing cocaine has been found in Bogota, the first of its kind ever to be found in the Colombian capital, with a capacity for producing 200 kg of the drug per month, police said.

Anti-narcotics police said in a communique Saturday that they occupied the facility in the …. Source article  : Laboratory producing cocaine found in Bogota.

Seven killed as bomb explodes in Bihar village

PATNA – At least seven people were killed Sunday morning when a cylinder bomb exploded at Pachokhar village in Bihar’s Aurangabad district, police said.

The bomb was recovered during the final phase of the Bihar assembly polls Saturday but the police had failed to defuse it. On Sunday morning, villagers gathered to see the bomb … Read more : Seven killed as bomb explodes in Bihar village.

No progress on rescue for 29 trapped in mine

WELLINGTON – Three days after a gas explosion trapped 29 men in a New Zealand coal mine, officials said Sunday it was still too dangerous to send rescuers underground to look for them.

“If we send people underground we could lose lives, and I’m not prepared to do that,” police superintendent Gary Knowles told a … Read more : No progress on rescue for 29 trapped in mine.

Mob attacks police team in Bengal, 11 cops injured

KOLKATA – At least eleven policemen, including one officer, were injured in West Bengal’s North 24-Parganas district Saturday in attack by locals during a security check prior to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s visit Sunday.

“Acting on specific inputs that some miscreants are hiding with arms in Dugdia village near Barasat, a police team raided the … Read more : Mob attacks police team in Bengal, 11 cops injured.

Massive fire in plywood factory, no casualty

SITAPUR – Property worth lakhs of rupees was destroyed in a massive fire that broke out in a plywood factory in this Uttar Pradesh district Saturday, police said. No casualties were reported.

The fire engulfed the plywood factory in the Tambaur area and soon started spreading to nearby establishments.
“As the fire came in contact … Read : Massive fire in plywood factory, no casualty.

14 get jail terms for Kandhamal riots

BHUBANESWAR – A fast track court in Orissa Saturday sentenced 14 people to three years of rigorous imprisonment for their involvement in the communal riots in Kandhamal district of the state in 2008.

Judge C.R. Das of the fast track court No. 2 at district headquarters of Phulbani sentenced seven people to three years’ …. Source  : 14 get jail terms for Kandhamal riots.

Fate of New Zealand’s 29 trapped miners still unclear

WELLINGTON – Families of 29 men trapped underground after an explosion in a New Zealand coal mine faced a second sleepless night Saturday as rescuers continued to wait for the all-clear to go in and look for them.

Police superintendent Gary Knowles told Television New Zealand that air samples taken from the mine 24 hours …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Fate of New Zealand’s 29 trapped miners still unclear.

Boycotted Dalit woman commits suicide in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR – A Dalit woman leader, who fought on behalf of two Dalit cooks who were sacked due to upper-caste protests, hanged herself late Friday, an organisation working for Dalit rights said Saturday.

Saraswati Sethy, 28, was a resident of Sanamarichapalli village in the coastal district of Kendrapada, some 150 km from here.
“She was …. Original article  : Boycotted Dalit woman commits suicide in Orissa.

Many Punjab women entering Greece illegally, say gurdwaras

JALANDHAR – Many young women from Punjab in search of jobs abroad end up illegally in Greece, where they are forced into the flesh trade, says an NGO that has taken up their cause after a request from gurdwaras in that country.

Managing committees of Greece-based gurdwaras have written to Punjab NGO Lok Bhalai Party … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Many Punjab women entering Greece illegally, say gurdwaras.

Doctors group protests Desai’s election to Gujarat University senate

NEW DELHI – A doctors group has written to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi protesting against tainted former Medical Council of India (MCI) chief Ketan Desai getting elected uncontested to the Gujarat University senate.

The letter by Kunal Saha, president of People for Better Treatment, Saturday called for Modi’s attention on the matter.
It …. Original source  : Doctors group protests Desai’s election to Gujarat University senate.