Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for January 14, 2011

Mosque demolition: Friday prayers held outside police station

NEW DELHI – Around 1,500 people offered Friday prayers outside the Nizamuddin police station in south Delhi amid tight security as they were not allowed to do so at the site of a mosque that was demolished by civic authorities two days earlier, sparking protests.

“Friday prayers were held peacefully and nobody was allowed …. Source  : Mosque demolition: Friday prayers held outside police station.

Manhunt launched for leopard killers in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR – A day after a leopard was brutally killed by a mob on the outskirts of this Orissa capital, wildlife officials Friday launched a manhunt to nab those involved in the gory crime.

“We have booked six people under the Wildlife Protection Act. We have launched a manhunt to arrest them,” a senior state … Read : Manhunt launched for leopard killers in Orissa.

Lalgarh carnage toll rises to eight

KOLKATA – The deaths in the Netai village carnage rose to eight as one of the injured died of her injuries at a state-run premier hospital here Friday.

Geetali Adak, 40, died at SSKM Hospital 6.35 a.m., triggering protests by Trinamool Congress activists who alleged negligence in her treatment.
The woman sustained bullet injuries in …. Original source  : Lalgarh carnage toll rises to eight.

16 women troopers injured in accident

LUCKNOW – Sixteen women paramilitary personnel posted along the India-Nepal border were injured, six of them critically, when the vehicle carrying them was hit by a state-owned bus in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district Friday, police said.

The constables of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) were injured in Babanagar town when a speeding Uttar Pradesh Road …. Original article  : 16 women troopers injured in accident.

Records gutted in Delhi police station, none injured

NEW DELHI – A fire broke out in the record room of a police station in west Delhi Friday, an official said. No one was injured in the blaze.

“Some old papers in the record room of Nand Nagri police station caught fire at 11.15 a.m. No injuries in the incident were reported,” an official …. Original article  : Records gutted in Delhi police station, none injured.

Murder case solved after two months

NEW DELHI – Two men accused of murdering a 25-year-old man some months ago have been arrested from north Delhi, police said Friday.

The accused, Dharma and Dinesh alias Mintu, were arrested from Sultanpuri area Thursday night.
A senior police official said: “The body of a 25-year-old unidentified man was found at Jalebi Chowk in …. Source article  : Murder case solved after two months.

In attack on Kerala professor, police name 54 accused

KOCHI – At least 54 people were named by police in a list of accused submitted to a court here Friday for last year’s assault on a Kerala college professor whose right palm was chopped off.

Of them, 27 have been charge sheeted.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sabu Mathew, who investigated the case, …. Original source  : In attack on Kerala professor, police name 54 accused.

Unidentified bodies to be treated decently in Agra

AGRA – The Agra police have announced measures to ensure that unidentified bodies, earlier allegedly thrown into the Yamuna river, are not callously disposed of without any records.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Aseem Arun told reporters here that he has instructed that the teeth of the dead should be preserved for DNA identification later, … Read more : Unidentified bodies to be treated decently in Agra.

Hackers help fight natural disasters too!

WASHINGTON – During the biannual event called the Random Hacks of Kindness (RHoK), hackers worldwide develop software that can help identify and reduce risks from natural hazards.

It’s a far cry from the darker side of hackers who recently disrupted the computer operations of companies trying to shut down WikiLeaks, says Christian Science Monitor.
During … Read more >>>.

Boat capsizes, leaving four dead and five missing in Vietnam

HANOI – Four people died and five were missing after an overloaded boat capsized in a northern Vietnamese river, authorities said Friday.

Although the search for the missing continued Friday, authorities held out little hope of finding them alive.
“To be sure, the missing have died,” Mai Ngoc Phan, chairman of Tuyen Quang City, said …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Boat capsizes, leaving four dead and five missing in Vietnam.

Journalist among 14 killed in Pakistan violence (Second Lead)

ISLAMABAD – A journalist of a private television channel was shot dead by a group of assailants in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi, where at least 14 others were also killed in a series of target killings, police said.

Wali Khan Babar, 29, who was working with the Geo News, was attacked near Liaquatabad Dak … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Journalist among 14 killed in Pakistan violence (Second Lead).

Receding floodwaters reveal Queensland as ‘war zone’

SYDNEY – Those who fled Brisbane’s worst flooding since 1974 were trudging Friday through the Queensland state capital’s mud-laden streets to assess damage to homes and businesses.

Anna Bligh, the premier of the northeastern state, warned of the grief awaiting many of them in a “war zone” where 33,000 properties in Australia’s third-largest city have …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Receding floodwaters reveal Queensland as ‘war zone’.

Six killed in Jharkhand road accident

RANCHI – Six people were killed when a sports utility vehicle collided with a truck on the outskirts of Jharkhand’s steel city Jamshedpur Friday morning, police said.

The accident took place around 9 a.m. near Nayagram village situated in Jamshedpur district, around 135 km from Ranchi.
Six of the eight people travelling in … Original source on Gaea Times at : Six killed in Jharkhand road accident.

PIL seeks CBI probe into Goa’s cops-politician-drug nexus

PANAJI – The Bombay High Court bench in Goa will next week hear a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking handing over of the infamous police-politician-drug nexus case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The petition filed by National Students Union of India (NSUI) president Sunil Kavathankar Friday sought that the case, allegedly … Original source on Gaea Times at : PIL seeks CBI probe into Goa’s cops-politician-drug nexus.

Journalist among eight killed in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – A journalist of a private television channel was shot dead by a group of unidentified assailants in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi, where at least seven others were also killed in different incidents of target killing, police said.

Wali Khan Babar, 29, who was working with the Geo News, was attacked near Liaquatabad … Read more »».

Piracy costs world economy up to $12 bn a year

NEW YORK – Somali pirates have driven up shipping costs in the Indian Ocean, resulting in world economic losses estimated at $7 billion to $12 billion a year, a study by One Earth Future Foundation said Thursday.

Armed with AK-47s, pirates in rickety skiffs have carried out brazen hijackings, seizing massive oil tankers, cargo vessels [..] Read the original article: here.

Geo News reporter shot dead in Karachi

ISLAMABAD – A reporter of Geo News was shot dead in Pakistan’s southern Karachi city, the news channel said Thursday.

Wali Khan Babar was on his way home from office when he was attacked in the Liaquatabad area of the city, Geo News said.
The gunmen opened fire at close range, killing him instantly. … Read more »».

7.2-magnitude quake jolts Pacific islands

BEIJING – An earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale Friday jolted the New Caledonia’s Loyalty Islands in the South Pacific, reports Xinhua.

It occurred at 12.16 a.m., according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre.
The epicentre was located at 20.6 degrees south latitude and 168.6 degrees east longitude, with a depth of about 10 … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : 7.2-magnitude quake jolts Pacific islands.

Barge with 2,400 tonnes of acid capsizes in Germany

ST GOARSHAUSEN – A motorised barge carrying 2,400 tonnes of sulphuric acid capsized and sank Thursday in Germany’s scenic Rhine river gorge, leaving two of the four crew members missing in the flood-swollen river.

Authorities said tests showed none of the acid had escaped into the river.
The gorge is one of Europe’s main tourist … Original source on Gaea Times at : Barge with 2,400 tonnes of acid capsizes in Germany.

Doctor, wife suffocate to death at home

NEW DELHI – A 65-year-old homoeopathy doctor and his wife suffocated to death after gas from a heater filled their bedroom in their south Delhi home Thursday, police said.

A police official said that the incident was reported from Paryavaran Complex in south Delhi’s Lado Sarai at around 2.30 p.m. and the victims were identified … Read : Doctor, wife suffocate to death at home.