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8 dead, several injured at Astroworld Festival in Houston
Officials in Texas say at least eight people are dead and several others injured in a crowd surge at the Astroworld Festival.
A compression of the crowd toward the stage occurred just after 9 p.m. Friday while rapper Travis Scott was performing, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña told reporters at a news conference.
“The crowd began to compress towards the front of the stage, and that caused some panic, and it started causing some injuries,” the fire chief said. “People began to fall out, become unconscious, and it created additional panic.”
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The show was called off shortly after several people began suffering injuries.
Officials transported 17 people to the hospital, including 11 who were in cardiac arrest, Peña said. Many people were also treated at the scene at NRG Park, where a field hospital had been set up.
Approximately 50,000 people were in attendance at the festival, Peña said.
The fire chief added that officials did not immediately know the causes of death for the eight people who died. A medical examiner would investigate. The deceased had not been identified as of early Saturday.
Officials set up a reunification center at a hotel for family members who had not been able to reach relatives in attendance at the festival.
Read: German court sentences mother to life for killing her 5 kids
Astroworld is a two-day music festival that was scheduled to take place Friday and Saturday in Houston. The event was sold out, according to the Astroworld website.
The event promoters had arranged for medical units to be on scene at the festival, however once the crowd surge began, those units were “quickly overwhelmed,” Peña said.
Global Covid cases top 244 million
The overall number of global Covid cases has now crossed 244 million as the race to vaccinate masses continue the world over.
The global Covid death toll and the total case count stand at 4,962,875 and 244,445,680 respectively, as of Wednesday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
The US has logged 45,608,962 cases and 738,877 deaths to date, according to the university data. The death toll in the United States is the highest in the world.
Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since January, registered 21,748,984 cases as of Wednesday, while its Covid death toll has risen to 606,246.
READ: Global Covid cases top 244 million
India's Covid-19 tally rose to 34,202,202 on Tuesday, as 12,428 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, as per the federal health ministry data.
Besides, as many as 356 deaths due to the pandemic were reported since Sunday morning, taking the total death toll to 455,068.
Most deaths, 482, were reported from the southern state of Kerala. "More than 70 percent cases (deaths) are due to comorbidities," said the federal health ministry.
Meanwhile, Russia has reported a record-high daily Covid-19 count of 36,446 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 8,316,019, the official monitoring and response center said Tuesday.
The nationwide death toll grew by a new single-day record of 1,106 to 232,775, and the number of recoveries increased by 26,973 to 7,213,584.
Situation in Bangladesh
Covid-19 claimed six more lives and infected another 276 people in Bangladesh in 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
The daily case positivity rate increased slightly to 1.44 percent from Monday’s 1.39 percent.
With the fresh numbers, the Covid fatalities reached 27,834 while the caseload climbed to 1,568,257 in Bangladesh, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
READ: Global Covid cases top 243 million
Of the latest deaths, five were men and one woman.
The new cases were detected after testing 19,184 samples during the 24-hour period.
The recovery rate, however, increased slightly to 97.70 percent, with 440 more patients getting cured.
Dr Enamul Haque laid to rest
Eminent actor and playwright Dr Enamul Haque was laid to rest at Banani graveyard in the capital on Tuesday afternoon.
Earlier, the Ekushey Padak winning actor’s body was taken to the Central Shaheed Minar where people from all walks of life paid their last respect to him from 11 am to 12 noon, said Golam Kuddus, president of Sammilito Sangskritik Jote.
Placing a wreath on the coffin of Dr Enamul, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said, "Enamul Haque’s departure is an irreparable loss for us but his works for building a non-communal Bangladesh will show us ways in future."
Information Minister Hasan Mahmud, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Md. Akhtaruzzaman, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, among others, paid their tributes to Enamul Haque.
Later his body was taken to Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) where Dr Enmaul worked for over four decades.
Also read: Eminent thespian Dr Enamul Haque passes away
His namaz-e-janaza was held at the university after Zohr prayers.
Enmul Haque died on Monday afternoon while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital.
Covid-19 in Bangladesh: 14 more lives lost, 481 fresh cases detected
Covid-19 in Bangladesh claimed 14 more lives and infected another 481 in 24 hours till Sunday morning. With the fresh numbers, the Covid-19 fatalities reached 27,688 in Bangladesh while the caseload mounted to 1,562,359, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).The fresh cases were detected after testing 20,355 samples.
READ: Covid-19: Global cases near 238 million
With this, the daily-case positivity rate declined slightly to 2.36 percent from Friday’s 2.45 percent, said the DGHS.Bangladesh recorded below 3% daily-positivity rate last on February this year. However, the mortality rate remained static at 1.77 percent.The recovery rate slightly rose to 97.53 percent with the recovery of 699 more patients during this time.
READ: Covid-19: Experts say Bangladesh close to reaching herd immunity thresholdSo far, 1,523,833 people have recovered from the deadly virus infections, the DGHS added.
3 die as passenger vessel hits bulkhead in Turag
Three persons drowned while four others went missing after a passenger vessel sank in the Turag river off the coast of Savar following a collision with a bulkhead on Saturday.
The identities of the missing could not be known immediately.
Kazi Mazharul Islam, officer-in-charge of Savar Police Station, said the Gabtoli-bound vessel with 15 people on board capsized in the river after hitting the bulkhead off the coast of Savar's Aminbazar on the outskirts of Dhaka this morning.
READ: Trawlers with 24 fishermen capsize in the Bay, one dies
While eight people managed to swim to safety, seven others went missing.
On information, divers from the local fire service station rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation.
READ: 11 fishers rescued as trawler capsizes in Bay of Bengal
The bodies of two children and a woman were subsequently fished out of the river, said Raihanul, station officer (media) of Fire Service and Civil Defense headquarters.
A man, his grandson electrocuted in Sylhet, agitated villagers block Polly Bidyut office
A man and his 10-year old grandson died from electrocution on Monday at Nij Chaura village in Kanaighat upazila of Sylhet. The deceased were identified as Fakhar Uddin,55, and his grandson Ariful Islam,, a student of class two. According to locals, due to Sunday night’s storm an electrical wire got torn and fell down on the road beside Fakhar,s house. Fakhar and other locals informed the Polly Bidyut (Rural Electrification Board) office but they did not come to remove it. Around 12 pm while returning from school Ariful got electrocuted from that wire and Fakhar also died when he tried to save him. Later locals rescued them and rushed them to Upazila Health Complex where the doctors announced both of them dead. Another local named Faisal Ahmed,35, sustained injuries while rescuing them and currently being treated at the hospital, said the locals.
READ: 4 of a family electrocuted in Noakhali Agitated by the incidents locals gathered around Kanaighat Polly Bidyut zonal office and blocked the road in front of it demanding removal of the Deputy General Manager and proper steps after an investigation. Due to negligence of the DGM and other officials of Polly Bidyut office Fakhar and Ariful died, they claimed. Later around 4pm the agitated locals lifted the blockade after Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shumonto Banerjee and officer-In-charge of Kanaighat police station Tajul Islam assured them of taking steps through a probe on the incident. DGM Akhter Hossain ran away from the office and remained unreachable to get a comment on the matter. OC Tajul Islam said the bodies were sent for autopsy and actions will be taken after a proper investigation on the incident.
READ: Schoolboy electrocuted in Sylhet
Fakhar,s nephew Nur Islam will be filing a complaint with the police station in this regard, he said.
School headmistress dies of Covid in Chattogram, confirms governing council member
A 50-year-old headmistress of a school died of Covid-19 in Hathazari of Chattogram Sunday evening, according to a member of the school’s governing council.
Ferdousi Ara, headmaster of Ali Muhammad Government Primary School in Chipatli Union of Hathazari upazila, was buried at Chattagram University Staff Cemetery after janaza last night.
Confirming it, Zia Haider, president of the school's governing council, said that the teacher was admitted to Chattogram General Hospital on September 21 after contracting Covid and died at the Intensive Care Unit of the facility on September 26.
She was suffering from shortness of breath and high fever during this time.
The school head was on duty before catching the deadly virus since reopening of the educational institution on September 12, according to her co-workers.
READ: PIB assistant professor Quamrun Nahar Ruma dies of Covid-19
Meanwhile, Sahina Akhter, assistant teacher of Hathazari Model Government Primary School, Sanchita Barua, headmistress of Uttar Madarsha Mahluma Government Primary School and Smriti Dutta, assistant teacher of Rashidia Government Primary School all tested positive for Covid-19 and are currently undergoing home quarantine .
Besides, 15 people including the headmaster, teachers and office bearers of Hathazari Model Government Primary School gave their samples at the Upazila Health Complex on Sunday morning as they were in direct contact with the affected persons.
Hathazari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahidul Alam said the conditions of the other infected teachers are currently stable apart of one casualty.
“We are running the school following the government instructions. If the situation deteriorates further, a decision will be taken after consulting higher authorities,” he said.
Last Thursday, an eighth-grader, who had been suffering from suspected Covid symptoms of fever, sore throat and shortness of breath, died in Manikganj Sadar.
Identified as Rodela, she died on Wednesday evening on way to Dhaka’s Kurmitola General Hospital.
She was a student of Surendra Kumar (SK) Govt Girls’ High School .
Rodela’s relatives said she had been suffering from fever and sore throat since her first day of school on September 15. She was undergoing treatment under a local doctor who prescribed medicine for sore throat.
She was rushed to Munnu Medical College and Hospital in Manikganj on Wednesday afternoon after she complained of shortness of breath. She was being brought to Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka as her condition deteriorated, but unfortunately could not make it.
Meanwhile, another student of class X of the same school has tested positive for covid-19.
The two incidents have sparked concern among the guardians.
Also, five students of classes IV and V have tested positive for Covid at a primary school in Thakurgaon sadar upazila on September 24.
READ: Another EC official dies of Covid in Mymensingh
This has prompted the authorities to suspend all classes of IV and V grades at Bahadurpara Government Primary School in Thakurgaon sadar upazila.
An on-duty Rab constable killed by bullet triggered from his own firearm
A Rab member died after being by a bullet reportedly from his own firearm at the main gate of Rapid Action Battalion headquarters in Uttara, Dhaka on Monday, an official said.
However, it was not immediately clear whether Constable Shovo Mallo, 26, died by suicide or accidental firing of the bullet.
Contacted, ASP Imran Khan, assistant director (legal and media wing) at the Rab told UNB that Shovo was on duty at the main gate of the Rab headquarters. Suddenly, he was hit by a bullet triggered from his own firearm at around 2:30 pm.
READ: Rab arrest three members of a human trafficking gang
He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where the duty doctor declared him dead at around 5:15 pm, said Imran.
Replying to a question, he said it was not immediately clear how the incident occurred. However, an investigation has been ordered to ascertain the actual reason, he added.
READ: ‘Rohingya robber’ killed in ‘gunfight’ with Rab in Cox's Bazar
Lightning kills two in Kurigram
Two persons were killed and another one sustained injuries after being struck by lightning at Karaibarishal in Chilmari upazila of Kurigram district on Friday afternoon.
The deceased were identified as Jhangir Alam, 30, son of Tamsher Ali, and Al Amin, both residents of the upazila.
Abu Taleb Sarkar, chairman of Ashtamir Char in the upazila, said that lightning struck the three when they were washing rotten jute in a water body in the area around 3 pm.
READ: 2 killed by lightning strike in Manikganj
"While Jhangir and Tamsher died on the spot, Samad sustained injuries and was rushed to a local hospital for treatment," he added.
Lightning in Bangladesh
Lightning strike has turned into one of the deadliest natural disasters in Bangladesh, claiming over 200 lives every year.
According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, 2,164 people died in lightning strikes in the country from 2011 to 2020.
At least 216 people die every year on an average in lightning strikes, more than by floods, cyclones and other natural calamities.
READ: 2 Rohingyas killed by lightning strike in Cox’s Bazar
Experts say that about 70 percent of the total lightning strikes usually occur between April and June, and advise everyone to move with caution during this time.
60 'missing' in India ferry accident
At least 60 people are missing after two passenger boats crashed into each other in the Brahmaputra river of the northeastern state of Assam Wednesday, officials said.
The two boats carrying over a hundred passengers collided near Nimati Ghat in the state's Jorhat district, some 350km from Assam's capital Guwahati.
READ: Brahmanbaria trawler capsize: death toll climbs to 23
"So far, some 30 people have been rescued. One of the boats has capsized in the river. Rescue operations are on," a state disaster response force official told the media.
Local TV channels aired footage of the rescue operations by the disaster management personnel.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted to say that he had directed the Jorhat administration officials to help in the rescue operations.
READ: Couple drowns in boat capsize in Titas River, minor girl missing
"I am pained at the tragic boat accident near Nimati Ghat, Jorhat," he also tweeted.