IAF embarks on relief mission to tsunami-hit Indonesia
New Delhi, Oct 2 : The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday embarked on a humanitarian relief mission to help Indonesia that has been hit by an earthquake and tsunami in which more than 1,200 lives were lost.
IAF's C-130J and C-17 aircraft are taking part in the relief operation. The C-130J aircraft is carrying field hospital from Agra while the C-17 aircraft is carrying National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) load, including tents, generators and medicines, an official said.
"The C-130J carrying 37 medical personnel has taken off from Hindon air base for Chennai. From Chennai, the aircraft will take off for Kualanamu International Airport and then move to Palu, Indonesia," the official said.
The official said that the medical teams have been instructed to be self-contained for 10 days. Accordingly, they are carrying their rations, generators, fuel, tentage, etc.
In addition, light medical equipment including X-ray machines and medicines are being carried.
The C-17 was loaded at Palam with relief material received from National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), including 15.66 tonnes of tentage and generators and 16 tonnes of medicines.
According to Indonesian authorities, the death toll on Tuesday rose to 1,234 in the 7.5-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Sulawesi island last week.
The twin disasters have left the coastal city of Palu and the adjoining areas in ruins and with a shortage of food, water, and fuel.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
