Schoolchildren among 14 killed by Indonesia volcano eruption

Last Updated: Saturday, February 1, 2014, 22:23

Fourteen people, including four schoolchildren, were killed on Saturday after they were engulfed in scorching ash clouds spat out by Indonesia`s Mount Sinabung in its biggest eruption in recent days, officials said.

Underground fire, subsidence in Jharia be considered as `national disaster`: CPI(M)

Last Updated: Saturday, January 11, 2014, 02:09

The CPI(M) on Friday told the 14th Finance Commission that the underground fire, subsidence and emission of poisonous gas in the Jharia coalfields of Dhanbad be considered as a "national disaster".

Flood displaces 18,000 in Indonesia

Last Updated: Monday, December 30, 2013, 19:46

Around 18,000 people in western Indonesia have had to leave their homes after two rivers burst their banks and flooded thousands of houses, an official said on Monday.

NDRF sends 35 teams to Andhra for cyclone

Last Updated: Tuesday, November 26, 2013, 23:55

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has dispatched 35 rescue teams to the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh which will face severe cyclonic storm Lehar Nov 28.

Train crashes into Kenyan bus; 11 dead

Last Updated: Wednesday, October 30, 2013, 14:59

A train crashed into a passenger bus as it passed through a rail crossing in the capital, Nairobi, killing at least 11 people, emergency officials on Wednesday said.

Phailin impact: SDRF teams to be set up in all AP districts

Last Updated: Wednesday, October 30, 2013, 10:47

In the wake of Cyclone Phailin, the Andhra Pradesh government is trying to set up a SDRF to ensure speedy deployment of rescue teams to tackle natural and man-made calamities.

Steps to deal with natural disasters

Last Updated: Monday, October 28, 2013, 22:00

Government Monday took a series of steps, including strengthening of forecasting capabilities, advance information on quakes and landslides, maintaining road and telecommunication networks, to deal with natural disasters and reduce causalities.

PM for improvement of disaster management capabilities

Last Updated: Monday, October 28, 2013, 21:36

Citing the recent natural disasters in Uttarakhand, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday pressed for urgent steps to strengthen early warning systems and improve disaster management capabilities to save lives.

Tackling Cyclone Phailin - preparations were on for past five years

Last Updated: Sunday, October 27, 2013, 15:51

The fiery Cyclone Phailin left in its wake devastation in the coastal areas of Odisha, but India managed to successfully avert much loss to human lives and destruction as meticulous preparation to meet such an eventuality was going on for the past five years.

Indonesian earthquake kills 1, injures 2

Last Updated: Tuesday, October 22, 2013, 22:04

A moderate earthquake killed one villager, injured two others and damaged more than a hundred houses in western Indonesia on Tuesday, a disaster official said.

Cyclone Phailin: NDRF teams deputed in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh

Last Updated: Saturday, October 12, 2013, 09:12

National Disaster Response Force director general Krishna Chaudhary said that 23 NDRF teams have been deputed in Odisha, and 11 in Andhra Pradesh at locations identified by the state government.

`Eight lakh may die if magnitude 8 quake hits Himalaya region`

Last Updated: Sunday, October 6, 2013, 11:10

Over eight lakh people may die if an earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter scale occurs in the seismically-active Himalayan states from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, National Disaster Management Authority`s Vice Chairman M Shashidhar Reddy has warned.