Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for January 18, 2011

Punish diplomat for wife-beating: Tirath

NEW DELHI – Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath Tuesday said that strong action should be taken against officials like Anil Verma, an Indian diplomat in London accused of assaulting his wife.

“There should be strong action taken against such officials and their increments stopped,” Tirath said on the sidelines of a function here.
…. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Mobiles, knife seized from Jharkhand jail

RANCHI – Police seized 13 mobile phones, 17 phone chargers, a knife and other banned materials from Garwah district jail during surprise raids Tuesday, said a police official.

“Senior police officials conducted the raid following a tip-off about mobile phones and sharp weapons inside the jail. Apart from the phones, two SIM cards, a knife, [..] Read the original article: here.

Hostage killed before cops gun down two gangsters

LUCKNOW – In a dramatic shootout in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, two gangsters shot dead a businessman they had kidnapped before being gunned down by police, officials said Tuesday.

A third criminal managed to escape in the shootout that took place late Monday in Teetawi area of Muzaffarnagar, about 350 km from here, while … Read more : Hostage killed before cops gun down two gangsters.

Sushma Swaraj to visit Sabarimala Wednesday

KOCHI – Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj will Wednesday visit the spot near the Sabarimala shrine in Kerala where 102 people lost their lives in a stampede, an official said.

The stampede occurred Friday night at Pulumedu near Vandiperiyar town where about 100,000 pilgrims …. Original article  : Sushma Swaraj to visit Sabarimala Wednesday.

Three die as welcome arch collapses on rickshaw

NASHIK – In a freak accident, at least three people, including a six-year-old boy, were killed Tuesday when a welcome arch set up by civic authorities collapsed on a rickshaw passing by, police said.

“The welcome arch constructed between Nashik Road and Deolali Camp areas on the outskirts of the city collapsed on a rickshaw … Read : Three die as welcome arch collapses on rickshaw.

High court issues notices in Goa drug nexus probe case

PANAJI – The Panaji bench of the Bombay High court Tuesday sent notices to the Goa government and the CBI after a students’ union filed a suit in connection with the police-politician-drug nexus case.

Sunil Kavthankar, president of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), in his petition, has pleaded that the investigation into … Read more >>>.

Gas leak in Maharashtra, over 10 hospitalised

PUNE – More than 10 people were hospitalised Tuesday after a chlorine gas leak in an effluent treatment plant in Pimpri-Chinchwad located on the outskirts of this Maharashtra city, police said.

“The gas leak started early Tuesday from the plant. The leakage has affected 10-15 people who have been admitted to nearby hospitals,” a police …. Original source  : Gas leak in Maharashtra, over 10 hospitalised.

Post-stampede, divinity of Samarimala light questioned

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – With 102 lives lost in a stampede on the day the revered Makar Jyothi appears three times on the horizon soon after dusk above the famed Sabarimala temple, questions are now again being raised about the divinity of the light.

On Makar Sankranti, which is considered the most auspicious day in the [..] Read the original article: here.

Vrindavan’s ‘Porn Swamy’ arrested, CDs, cameras seized

MATHURA – The controversial Vrindavan ‘Porn Swamy’, accused of making pornograhic clips and movies using holy motifs and the backdrop of deities, was arrested Monday afternoon after more than ten days on the run, police said.

The temple city of Mathura, 380 km from Uttar Pradesh state capital Lucknow, was outraged after the case surfaced [..] Read the original article: here.

Colombia closes 56 illegal gold mines

Bogota, Jan 18 (IANS/EFE) Colombian authorities over the past four months have closed 56 illegal gold mines and arrested 573 people, a police report stated.

The report released Monday said that “46 illegal deposits (have been closed, and) 573 people were arrested”, but it clarified that the majority of those people have been released on …. Source  : Colombia closes 56 illegal gold mines.

Woman who stole baby says she did it to save her marriage

Santiago (Dominican Republic), Jan 18 (IANS/EFE) A Dominican woman who was arrested for kidnapping a 25-day-old baby said she committed the crime “to give a child” to her sterile husband and avoid a separation, authorities said.

The accused, identified as Altagracia Disneris Reyes Rodriguez, 22, stole the baby last Friday in the town of San …. Original article  : Woman who stole baby says she did it to save her marriage.

Mexico seizes 39 art treasures smuggled out of Singapore

Mexico City, Jan 18 (IANS/EFE) A total of 39 Singaporean art treasures from the 17th and 18th centuries were seized in the Mexican port of Manzanillo after being smuggled into the Latin American nation, the Attorney General’s Office said.

Federal investigators and tax inspectors were checking goods stored on the premises of the Timsa company … Read more : Mexico seizes 39 art treasures smuggled out of Singapore.

665 dead in Brazil mudslides

Rio de Janeiro, Jan 18 (IANS/EFE) The number of dead from downpours that have deluged the southeastern Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro has climbed to 665, authorities said Monday.

Sunday’s rains caused three deaths and further mudslides that blocked some highways and impeded search efforts, which were resumed before dawn in the hard-hit cities …. Source  : 665 dead in Brazil mudslides.

Mumbai oil depot fire under control, no casualties

MUMBAI – A huge fire broke out in an oil storage depot of the public sector Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) in Navi Mumbai early Tuesday. The fire was brought under control after nearly eight hours, police said.

“After nearly eight hours, the fire has been contained. There are no reports of any casualties. We … Read more »»».

12 inmates escape as attackers bust Mexican prison

Mexico City, Jan 18 (IANS/EFE) A dozen inmates escaped from a prison in Mexico’s northern state of Chihuahua after armed men rammed a vehicle through a security fence, authorities said.

The breakout occurred around 5.00 a.m. Monday at the prison in Aquiles Serdan, near Chihuahua city, the state capital.
The attackers fired shots to distract …. Read the original article  : here.

Egyptian man sets himself ablaze in front of parliament

CAIRO – A man set himself on fire in front of the Egyptian parliament protesting “terrible living conditions”, a media report said.

Abdou Abdel-Moneim Hamadah, 48, stood in front of the parliament, in downtown Cairo, poured fuel on himself and set himself afire, Prensa Latina reported.
A spokesman for the ministry of public health told …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Egyptian man sets himself ablaze in front of parliament.

Massive fire in Mumbai oil depot

MUMBAI – A massive broke out in an oil storage depot of the public sector Indian Oil Corporation Limited in Navi Mumbai early Tuesday, police said.

The fire alert was received by the police around 2 a.m. from the security guard of the company in the Taloja-MIDC area of Navi Mumbai. So far, there are …. Read the original article  : Massive fire in Mumbai oil depot.

Brazil: Death toll surpasses 650 in flooding disaster

RIO DE JANEIRO – The number of dead in flooding and mudslides in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro has reached 652.

The disaster has affected the mountainous area of the state, and worst hit are the cities Nova Friburgo, with 302 dead, and Teresopolis with 272 dead. In the historic city of Petropolis, … Read more >>>.

Three Chinese held for photographing troopers’ camps

BAHRAICH – Three Chinese nationals, including a woman, were held by paramilitary personnel after they were found taking the photographs of their camps along the Indo-Nepal border in this Uttar Pradesh district Monday, police said.

The three were caught by Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel while they were taking photos.
“As of now, I can …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Three Chinese held for photographing troopers’ camps.

Somali pirates seize Greek ship, says EU

NAIROBI/LONDON – Somali pirates have seized a Greek-owned ship, the MV Eagle, in the Gulf of Aden, the European Union’s anti-piracy force EU NAVFOR said Monday.

EU NAVFOR said pirates fired small arms and a rocket-propelled grenade before boarding the Cypriot-flagged ship in the early hours of Monday morning.
There has since been no contact … Read more »».