Connect with us
Monday,10-August-2026
Breaking News

disaster

Death toll from tropical disease melioidosis in Australia rises to 12

Published

on

Sydney, Feb 26: The number of deaths from a disease linked to heavy rainfall and flooding in northeast of Australia’s state of Queensland has more than doubled to 12, local health authorities said.

Health authorities in the tropical north coast region of Queensland confirmed that the death toll from melioidosis in the current wet season has risen to 12, up from five deaths that had been reported as of February 21.

Of the 12 deaths, nine occurred in and around Cairns, the largest city in the region, and three in the city of Townsville, almost 300 km south.

Melioidosis is a rare tropical disease caused by bacteria commonly found in soil and water in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. After heavy rainfall it becomes airborne.

Queensland’s tropical northern coast was hit by widespread flooding earlier in February, with many towns getting record rainfall for the month in a matter of days.

There have been 53 confirmed cases of melioidosis in Carins and 34 cases in Townsville since the start of 2025, Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported, citing Jacqueline Murdoch, director of the Tropical Public Health Services.

“It absolutely is a record-breaking year. Certainly we haven’t seen anything like this and the numbers are very alarming,” said Murdoch on Tuesday.

“It’s a very severe disease and it has a reasonably high fatality rate, so we do have a large number of deaths now, which is reflecting the large number of cases.”

She said that most of the patients were older people and that the majority had contracted the disease through the air.

Murdoch urged people to be careful about being outside in heavy rain, being in contact with soil and to wear a mask when using a high-pressure hose.

Anyone with a cough or difficulty breathing has been advised to visit their doctor or nearest emergency department.

disaster

Assam flood: More than 77,000 still in relief camps, says CM Sarma

Published

on

Guwahati : More than 77,000 people continue to remain sheltered in relief camps across Assam as the flood situation in the state remains under close watch, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister said that rehabilitation and restoration efforts were being intensified across the flood-affected areas as the state government continued to respond to the situation.

“More than 77,000 people continue to be sheltered in relief camps as the situation remains under close watch,” Sarma said in the post.

He added that rehabilitation and restoration efforts were being stepped up across the affected areas.

The latest update comes as several parts of Assam continue to grapple with the impact of floods, with thousands of people dependent on government-run relief camps for shelter and essential assistance.

The state administration and district authorities have been engaged in relief and rescue operations, while efforts are also underway to restore essential infrastructure and services in areas affected by the floods.

The Chief Minister has been regularly sharing updates on the flood situation and the measures being undertaken by the state government.

Officials have been monitoring water levels of major rivers and the condition of embankments in vulnerable areas, even as authorities remain alert to the possibility of further deterioration in some locations.

The continuing presence of more than 77,000 people in relief camps highlights the scale of the humanitarian challenge facing the state, with rehabilitation emerging as a key priority alongside immediate relief operations.

The government has also been focussing on restoring roads, communication links and other essential infrastructure disrupted by the floods, while affected communities are being provided assistance through relief mechanisms.

Sarma said the administration would continue to closely monitor the situation and accelerate restoration and rehabilitation measures wherever required.

The flood situation in Assam has caused widespread disruption in several districts this season, affecting homes, livelihoods and public infrastructure.

With a large number of people still residing in relief camps, authorities are expected to maintain enhanced preparedness until water levels recede and affected families can safely return to their homes.

Continue Reading

disaster

53-Year-Old Thane Resident Duped Of ₹39 Lakh In Cryptocurrency Investment Scam

Published

on

Mumbai: A 53-year-old resident of Thane recently fell prey to scammers and lost Rs 39 lakh in a cryptocurrency investment fraud.

The scammers promised lucrative returns on trading and induced him to register on a bogus trading website and transfer money in over a dozen transactions.

The case dates back to June 26 last year, when he received a phone call from a person sharing information about the trading website, promising withdrawal of earnings by the end of every month.

Another scammer posed as a fund manager, inducing the man to invest. He could see his earnings on the website from June 26 till December 3, but when he asked for his returns, the scammers started giving evasive replies.

Continue Reading

disaster

Air India plane crash: 144 victims identified by DNA tests, recovery efforts intensify

Published

on

Ahmedabad, June 17: Four days after the devastating crash of Air India flight AI-171 en route from Ahmedabad to London, authorities have confirmed that 144 DNA samples have been successfully matched as of noon Tuesday, according to Gujarat Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi.

The identification process is being led by a combined team from the State Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the National Forensic Sciences University, working around the clock to bring clarity to grieving families.

“This is a highly sensitive and emotional task. Every match is not just a technical confirmation, but a step toward giving closure to families waiting in anguish,” an official from the forensic unit said.

Emergency response teams remain stationed at the crash site in Meghaninagar, where investigators continue to recover personal belongings and body fragments amidst the wreckage.

Authorities have stated that all efforts are being made to ensure the dignity of the deceased and transparency in communication with the victims’ relatives.

Tata Group, which re-acquired Air India in 2022, has announced an ex gratia payment of Rs one crore to the families of each of the deceased from the AI‑171 crash near Ahmedabad. In addition, Air India has immediately released an interim relief payout of Rs 25 lakh per family — and to the lone survivor — to cover urgent needs.

The group will also cover all medical expenses for the injured and pledged financial support for rebuilding a damaged hostel at BJ Medical College. Chairman N. Chandrasekaran described it as “one of the darkest days in the Tata Group’s history.”

As of June 17, rescue and recovery efforts at the Ahmedabad crash site of Air India flight AI-171 remain intense and deeply coordinated. Over 300 firefighters, supported by 60 fire vehicles and 20 water bowsers from Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, ONGC, and other nearby agencies, continue to clear debris and extinguish smouldering wreckage.

On the ground, three NDRF teams, 150 CRPF officers, Indian Army personnel, and teams from the CISF, BSF, and Western Railway Disaster Management are conducting systematic searches for remains and missing belongings.

Specialised sniffer dogs are aiding in the recovery of human remains, while Ahmedabad Police, responding to disturbing reports, have deployed animal rescue teams to safely relocate stray dogs scavenging at the crash site.

Continue Reading

Trending