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Sandy toll mounts to 82 US President Barack Obama comforts a citizen affected by superstorm Sandy on Wednesday in Brigantine. — AP/PTI Obama tours ravaged areas 4 million sans electricity |
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22 killed in Riyadh fuel truck blast
Lankan MPs initiate
process to remove CJ
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New York, November 1 The latest New York City death count has risen to 34, New York City police said on Thursday morning. Fifteen of the city's dead were found on Staten Island, whose south-eastern flank took the full brunt of the Atlantic storm surge. New Jersey state police confirmed the death toll in the state had reached 12 as search and rescue teams continued to access devastated areas. The storm, at one point extending 1,000 miles (1,609 km) in diameter, has wound down into a broad weather system that is making its way north into Canada. It knocked out power for millions and crippled transportation systems along the densely populated coastal region. The last of its effects are being felt over the Appalachian mountains. The following are confirmed deaths related to the storm, however state emergency management agencies and governor's offices have warned the numbers are subject to change and could go up or down. A decrease may occur if the cause of
death is later deemed not to be a direct result on the storm. — Reuters
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New Jersey, November 1 The rare bipartisanship displayed by Obama and Governor Chris Christie, a fierce critic of the President, comes just days ahead of the November 6 presidential
election. Obama, who got an aerial view of the destroyed houses and beaches in the state known for its casinos and other recreational spots, praised Christie for his recovery efforts, saying the Governor had put his "heart and soul" in making sure the state "bounces back stronger than before." "I just want to thank him for his extraordinary leadership and participation," Obama said yesterday. He assured residents that the government would "not quit" and offered all help in rebuilding the destroyed
cities. Obama, who had suspended his election campaigning in the wake of the storm, said the biggest priority was to restore electricity for the millions of residents and businesses in states like New Jersey and New York, which have been the hardest hit by the storm. "Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones. My message is we are here for you, we will not forget, we will follow up to make sure you get all the help you need till you rebuild," he said. — PTI
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4 million sans electricity New York, November
1 More than 3.75 million people entered a third day without electricity, the New York Times reported. New York's Governor Andrew M Cuomo said initial damage estimates "project up to $6 billion in lost economic revenue" in the state. — PTI
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22 killed in Riyadh fuel truck blast Riyadh, November 1 Health ministry spokesman Saad al-Qahtani said 135 persons were injured in the disaster. He told state television they were mostly men and included some foreigners. The Civil Defence Department said a gas tanker had hit a bridge in eastern Riyadh, causing a gas leak and an explosion in a nearby heavy machinery and vehicles warehouse, according to the state news agency SPA. "The truck driver was surprised by a road accident on its route, causing it to crash into one of the pillars of the bridge," spokesman Captain Mohamed Hubail Hammadi said. Although the incident took place near the headquarters of the Saudi Arabian National Guard and the Prince Nayef Arab College for Security Sciences, officials speaking on state television said it was an accident. Civil defence chief Saed al-Tweijri said the fire had been brought under control. He blamed the tanker driver for the accident. The warehouse, several storeys high, was levelled by the blast, which also caused severe damage to other neighbouring buildings. Rubble, twisted metal and shattered glass littered a wide stretch of the surrounding area. "I was inside the building when the blast came. Then boom, the building collapsed. Furniture, chairs and cabinets blasted into the room I was in," said survivor Kushnoo Akhtar, a 55-year-old Pakistani worker, who was covered in dirt and bleeding from multiple cuts on his face and hands. The blast, which struck at around 7.20 am local time, was on one of the capital's busiest roads but because Saudi Arabia is still observing the Eid al-Adha holiday, traffic was lighter than normal. — Reuters
‘An Accident’
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Lankan MPs initiate
process to remove CJ The fate of Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice Shiranee Bandaranayaka hangs on the line after a group of government legislators on Thursday initiated a parliamentary process that would see her removal from the high post. The MPs handed over a motion to parliamentary Speaker Chama Rajapaksa on Thursday alleging improper behaviour on the part of the Chief Justice which warrants her removal. While the Speaker will now have to appoint a select committee to probe the allegations against her, President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government — with two-thirds majority in parliament — will have no obstacle in removing the highest judicial officer from office. Bandaranayaka, who was appointed to the post in May 2011, has fallen from grace with the government over a ruling on a controversial piece of legislation that deals with centralising control of welfare for underprivileged
Lankans.
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US 2012 polls most expensive in history, to cost $6bn 3 Pak ex-Generals quizzed in graft case Diana’s Rolls Royce to fetch £1.2 mn China launches second stealth fighter 4 wounded in Halloween party shooting |
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North American deaths from Sandy, the massive storm that tore through the US East Coast, rose to at least 82 on Thursday as deaths reported in New York City jumped substantially and fatalities in New Jersey also rose.
At least 22 persons were killed when a fuel truck crashed into a flyover in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Thursday, triggering an explosion that brought down an industrial building and torched nearby vehicles, officials and state media said.
