Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for February 17, 2011

Hundreds hold rally seeking Orissa collector’s release

BHUBANESWAR – Residents of Orissas Malkangiri town observed a shutdown and held a massive rally Thursday demanding the safe release of the district collector abducted by Maoists rebels a day earlier.

Most of government offices, business establishments, schools, colleges and other educational institutions remained closed, Additional District Magistrate S.L. Seal told IANS.
Students and …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Hundreds hold rally seeking Orissa collector’s release.

Nepal teenager’s murder goes unpunished even after 7 years

KATHMANDU – Rights organisations in Nepal and abroad Thursday urged the new government of Nepal to bring to justice the army officers and soldiers responsible for the torture and killing of a 15-year-old school girl, whose case has now become a rallying point for victims of the 10-year armed insurrection.

In 2004, soldiers went to …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Munitions store explodes in Tanzania, several killed

NAIROBI/DAR ES SALAAM – A munitions store in the Tanzanian economic centre Dar es Salaam exploded, leaving an unknown number of people dead, a news report said Thursday.

The explosion, which occurred overnight, also injured several people, The Citizen newspaper reported on its website, without providing further details of the casualties or the cause of …. Source article  : Munitions store explodes in Tanzania, several killed.

Mock drill held at parliament ahead of budget session

NEW DELHI – A mock drill was conducted at Parliament House Thursday morning to check the preparedness of various agencies in the event of an emergency in the heavily-guarded complex.

“The drill started around 8.30 a.m and it is part of normal security drill to check the preparedness of various agencies in case of …. Original article  : Mock drill held at parliament ahead of budget session.

Twelve dead in Vietnam tourist boat sinking

HANOI – Twelve people drowned when a tourist boat sank Thursday in Vietnam, officials said. Fifteen others have been rescued.

The accident occurred at 5 a.m. (2200 GMT Wednesday) at Ha Long Bay when a tourist boat carrying 27 people sank, said Vu Van Thin, an official of the Quang Ninh provincial government.
The … Read more : Twelve dead in Vietnam tourist boat sinking.

Tyre of Jet Airways plane catches fire

KOCHI – A Chennai-bound Jet Airways flight from here was aborted when one of its tyres caught fire just before take-off. All the passengers were safe.

Rafi, one of the passengers on board the plane, said that a few passengers noticed the fire and immediately informed the air hostess.
“The entire responsibility lies with the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Tyre of Jet Airways plane catches fire.

School van plunges into river, four children, helper drown

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Four nursery children and a woman accompanying them drowned Thursday when their school van fell into a river on the outskirts of the Kerala capital, police said.

The children were on their way to the Little Hearts Kindergarten. Eyewitnesses say the accident took place at around 9.30 a.m. The van was travelling at [..] Read the original article: here.

At least eight dead as Vietnam tourist boat sinks

HANOI – Eight foreign tourists were killed and five were still missing when a tourist boat sank Thursday in Vietnam, officials said.

The accidents occurred at 5 a.m. (2200 GMT Wednesday) at Ha Long bay when a boat carrying 22 people, including 21 foreign tourists, sank, said Ngo Van Hung, head of the management …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : At least eight dead as Vietnam tourist boat sinks.

Gunmen attack funeral procession in Mexican city

Ciudad Juarez (Mexico), Feb 17 (IANS/EFE) Gunmen opened fire on the funeral procession for a teenager killed earlier this week in the northern Mexican city of Chihuahua, wounding a police officer, police said.

A group of armed men arrived at the cemetery Tuesday in two SUVs and opened fire on the funeral procession, forcing relatives …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Gunmen attack funeral procession in Mexican city.

35 prisoners flee after beating guards in Tunisia

Tunis, Feb 17 (IANS/AKI) Thirty-five inmates held in a prison in southern Tunisia escaped by assaulting guards and making a hole in the wall, a media report said.

Most of the escapees were apprehended following the break-out from the prison in the Mediterranean coastal town of Gabes, said a report Wednesday by TAP, the country’s …. Original article  : 35 prisoners flee after beating guards in Tunisia.

Maoists abduct district collector in Orissa (Second Lead)

BHUBANESWAR – The collector of Orissa’s Malkangiri district, who went missing Wednesday evening, has been kidnapped by the Maoists who have set two conditions for his release, authorities said Thursday.

It is for the first time the rebels have taken hostage of an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer in the state.
Police and local … Read more >>>.

Orissa official suspected to be abducted by Maoists

BHUBANESWAR – The collector of Orissa’s Malkangri district, who has been missing since past several hours, is suspected to have been kidnapped by Moists, a top state government official said Thursday.

The collector R. Veenel Krishna has not returned to the district headquarters from Chitrakonda area where he along with several other officials went to …. Source  : Orissa official suspected to be abducted by Maoists.

Collector of Maoist strong hold Orissa district missing

BHUBANESWAR – The collector of Orissa’s Malkangiri district, a strong hold of Maoists, went missing since past several hours, official said Thursday.

The collector R. Veenel Krishna had gone to Chitrakonda area early Wednesday morning with several other officials for a district level public relation meeting.
“He and two-three other people have not yet … Read more »».

Somali pirate sentenced to 33 years in prison

NEW YORK – Somali detainee Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse, portrayed as a modern-day pirate, was sentenced Wednesday to 33 years and nine months in prison for hijacking a US vessel in 2009 off the coast of Somalia.

In US District Court in Lower Manhattan, US prosecutors had sought the maximum sentence of 34 years for Muse’s …. Original source  : Somali pirate sentenced to 33 years in prison.

Pakistan defiant on Davis case despite Kerry diplomacy

ISLAMABAD – Despite a hectic 24-hour visit of John Kerry, chairman of US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, Pakistan’s civil and military establishment seems to be in a defiant mood on the issue of granting diplomatic immunity to Raymond Davis, a US consular staffer arrested on charges of gunning down two Pakistani men in Lahore.

…. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Delhi trader shot at, critically injured

NEW DELHI – Three unidentified men shot a 56-year-old man, critically injuring him, outside his medical store in east Delhi when he was locking up his business for the day, a police official said Wednesday.

The attack occurred Tuesday night when it was raining.
The men came on a motorbike and tried to waylay M.R. …. Original article  : Delhi trader shot at, critically injured.

Census enumerators thrashed in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Two teachers, who were conducting census survey, were allegedly beaten up by residents in a east Delhi locality Wednesday, police said.

According to police, the incident took place around 2 p.m. in West Karawal Nagar in Khazoori Khas.
The victims – Arvind Kumar, 45, and Sunil Kumar, 47, both teachers at Municipal …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Sri Lanka to charge 112 Indian fishermen with poaching

COLOMBO – Sri Lankan officials said Wednesday that they would charge more than 100 Indian fishermen for poaching.

Police say Sri Lankan fishermen off Point Pedro on the northwest coast spotted the Indians poaching and alerted the police Tuesday.
“We will be producing the 112 fishermen before the local magistrate in the area Wednesday evening,” … Original article on : Sri Lanka to charge 112 Indian fishermen with poaching.

Man withdraws lakhs from girlfriend’s account, caught

MUMBAI – Twenty-eight years old Amit Gupta made money quickly and in a novel way – through his girlfriend. After winning her trust and obtaining her ATM password, he quietly applied for new credit and debit cards and merrily began withdrawing money from her account. Several weeks and Rs.3.42 lakh later, he is now cooling … Read more : Man withdraws lakhs from girlfriend’s account, caught.

Couple killed in gas cylinder blast

NEW DELHI – A couple was killed in their house in Delhi when a leaking liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder exploded Tuesday night, police said Wednesday.

Chandan Vishwas, 45, and his wife Tara, 41, both from West Bengal, were living in a rented accommodation at Geeta Colony in east Delhi.
Tara was making dinner … Read more >>>.