Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for February 3, 2011

Australia Storm To Bring Rain

QUEENSLAND (GaeaTimes.com)- The Category 5 Cyclone Yasi hit the shores of Queensland on Wednesday midnight and left thousands of people homeless. However, the meteorologists reported that the Cyclone Yasi has diminished to category 1 storm on Thursday and it is expected to bring in heavy rain in Queensland. The weather forecast of the upcoming … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Australia Storm To Bring Rain.

We want enquiry, say survivors of train tragedy

LUCKNOW – Survivors and victims’ families Thursday sought an enquiry into the train rooftop accident that claimed the lives of 18 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) aspirants in Uttar Pradesh.

“By holding the ITBP aspirants responsible for the accident, the state government or the ITBP or any government agency linked to the recruitment drive can’t wash … Original source on Gaea Times at : We want enquiry, say survivors of train tragedy.

Australian Cyclone Yasi’s Victims Promised Help

QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The prime minister of Australia Julia Gillard assured the residents of Queensland of all possible help in rebuilding their homes and compensation for the damage they suffered from Cyclone Yasi. The weather experts agreed that it was the worst tropical storm to hit Queensland in a century. Before being hit by … Original source on Gaea Times at : Australian Cyclone Yasi’s Victims Promised Help.

Raja, aides presented in court

NEW DELHI – Former communications minister A. Raja, arrested for his role in the award of spectrum to telecom players that has been dubbed the biggest scam in Indian history, was Thursday presented in the Patiala House Court along with his two aides.

Raja and his aides — former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura and … Read more »».

Pakistan jail prison officials flee police custody

ISLAMABAD – A Pakistani jail’s former superintendent and a deputy superintendent have escaped from police custody, after the Lahore High Court turned down their bail plea in a case related to eleven missing inmates, a media report said.

Adiyala Jail former superintendent Saeedullah Gondal and Deputy Superintendent Khalid Bashir were arrested from the court …. Source article  : Pakistan jail prison officials flee police custody.

Two Punjab women dupe six with lure of Canada

MOHALI – Punjab Police have filed cases against a mother-daughter duo for duping at least six people of several lakhs of rupees on the pretext of helping them get permanent residency in Canada, police said here Thursday.

According to the police, the accused have been identified as Sukhwinder Kaur and her daughter Sumeet Kaur. They … Read more >>.

Arrested Bihar editor begins fast over bad jail food

PATNA – Navlesh Pathak, editor of an English weekly arrested for the murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Raj Kishore Kesri, Thursday went on an indefinite fast at Bihar’s Purnia jail to protest the poor quality of food served to him.

“Navlesh Pathak has appealed to the jail officials in his letter to provide … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Arrested Bihar editor begins fast over bad jail food.

Lake Shore Drive Closed

CHICAGO (GaeaTimes.com)- Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive was closed Tuesday evening after three unfortunate accidents took place and whiteout conditions turned it misleading. The commuters were stranded on the road for about 12 hours and the authorities say that about 700 to 900 cars were abandoned on the road. Mayor Richard Daley’s chief staff Raymond … Read : Lake Shore Drive Closed.

Jail guard shoots inmate, self

NANDED – A policeman shot dead a prisoner before killing himself early Thursday, police said.

Constable P.M. Marwade, 47, fired at Sandeep Ghorbandh with his .303 rifle at the Kandhar sub-jail, police officer Geeta Chauhan told IANS.
Marwade then shot himself with the same weapon after writing in the official register that he was being … Original source on Gaea Times at : Jail guard shoots inmate, self.

Raja’s arrest to fool people: Jayalalithaa

CHENNAI – AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa Thursday reiterated her charge that the arrest of DMK leader and former communications minister A. Raja was meant to fool people.

“The arrest by the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) is to hoodwink the people and to make the Supreme Court think that action is being taken in the …. Original article  : Raja’s arrest to fool people: Jayalalithaa.

Aussies take to Facebook amid disaster

MELBOURNE – Australians shared real-time experiences on Facebook and Twitter as a devastating cyclone hit the northeastern coast.

A total of 23,141 tweets from 10,000 people were posted in the past 24 hours, The Age reported Thursday.
Others turned to Facebook to seek help with the most popular page, Cyclone Yasi Update, garnering close to … Read : Aussies take to Facebook amid disaster.

Five hurt as building collapses in Kolkata

KOLKATA – Five people were injured Thursday morning when a portion of an old multi-storey building collapsed in central Kolkata, police said.

The building collapsed in Indian Exchange Place area. The injured were admitted to the hospital. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot and had started the rescue operations.
“Five people were injured when …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Lahore shooting: court extends remand of American

ISLAMABAD – A Pakistani court Thursday extended till Feb 11 the custody of the US government official held for gunning down two Pakistanis in Lahore.

Raymond Davis was arrested for killing two youngsters in Lahore last week.
Davis was produced in court under a tight security cover after his six-day remand period ended Thursday, Dawn … Original article on : Lahore shooting: court extends remand of American.

Drug peddler held with Rs.1 crore brown sugar

GORAKHPUR – An inter-state drug peddler has been arrested in this district with brown sugar worth over Rs.1 crore, police said Thursday.

Ramesh Singh, aged around 25 years, was nabbed late Wednesday from Gulriasahai area following a joint operation by the special operation group (SOG) and the district police.
“Acting on a tip-off, we nabbed …. Source  : Drug peddler held with Rs.1 crore brown sugar.

Canadian jailed for beating his puppy to death

TORONTO – A Canadian man has been locked up for six months for beating his puppy to death.

A court in Victoria, which is the capital of British Columbia province, Wednesday sentenced 24-year-old Brent Malcolm Connors for beating his dog to death last month.
“I am really sorry for what’s happened. It really affected me. … Read more »»».

Mexican kidnapper becomes first woman to be jailed for life

Mexico City, Feb 3 (IANS/EFE) The leader of a gang that carried out kidnappings in Mexico’s northern state of Chihuahua has become the first woman in the country to be sentenced to life in prison.

Erika Patricia Alonso Sandoval, 28, was found guilty in the abduction and subsequent murder of two businessmen, the state government … Original article on : Mexican kidnapper becomes first woman to be jailed for life.

Brazil mudslides: Toll rises to 869

Rio de Janeiro, Feb 3 (IANS/EFE) The toll due to mudslides triggered by heavy rains that have deluged the mountainous region of the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro has risen to 869, authorities said.

The floods and mudslides have killed 418 people in Nova Friburgo, 354 in Teresopolis, 71 in Petropolis, 21 in Sumidouro, [..] Read the original article: here.

Cyclone Yasi hits Queensland

MELBOURNE – Cyclone Yasi hit Australia’s north Queensland town of Tully just before Wednesday midnight and the damage caused by the storm is expected to be widespread, a media report said.

Tully, Innisfail, Mission Beach and Dunk Island have been the hardest hit communities so far as category 5 cyclone slammed into the north …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Cyclone Yasi hits Queensland.

Man held for abducting boy, throwing him before train

NEW DELHI – A man has been arrested in north Delhi for kidnapping an eight-year-old boy and throwing him in front of a train, police said Wednesday. The child survived but his right hand had to be amputated.

Karambir, a resident of Mangolpuri area, abducted Rahul, whose father was getting married to Karambir’s sister-in-law. The …. Original source  : Man held for abducting boy, throwing him before train.

Noida to get new communication system for crime control

NOIDA – Noida, Greater Noida and the Yamuna Expressway Authority area in Uttar Pradesh will soon have an integrated communication and intelligence system to support crime control and traffic management, an official said Wednesday.

The integrated system will be backed by a dedicated broadband metropolitan area (fiber optic) network.
New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA) … Read more : Noida to get new communication system for crime control.