4 killed after oil-drilling ship overturns in Gulf of Suez
An oil-drilling ship capsized in the Gulf of Suez, killing at least four crewmen and leaving four others missing, authorities said Wednesday. There were 30 workers on board when the drilling ship capsized.(AFP file)
The drilling ship overturned Tuesday evening off the city of Ras Ghareb, on the African side of the Gulf of Suez, the Red Sea's northwestern arm and a crucial shipping route, the Petroleum Ministry said in a statement.
There were 30 workers on board when the drilling ship capsized, said Amr Hanafy, governor of the Red Sea province.
Rescue teams recovered four bodies and rescued two 22 others who were taken to hospitals, he said.
He said ships from the Egyptian navy joined the search-and-rescue efforts which were still ongoing overnight for four missing crewmen.
It wasn't immediately clear what caused the drilling ship to capsize and authorities say investigations were ongoing. Local media reported it was being tugged for excavations in another area when it overturned.
The capsizing happened in an area called Gabel el-Zeit, a prominent Egyptian oil production site around 300 kilometers (186 miles) south of the Suez Canal, the ministry said in a statement.
The capsizing didn't disrupt vessels transiting through the canal, which links the Gulf of Suez to the Mediterranean Sea, Adm. Ossam Rabei, head of the canal authority, said.
Rabei said in a statement that 33 vessels were scheduled to transit Wednesday through the global waterway.
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Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Indian Express
Paddy to petals: Sangrur farmer finds prosperity in marigold, has eyes set on roses
In Punjab's Pedni Kalan village in Dhuri tehsil of Sangrur district, 41-year-old Sukhdeep Singh has carved out a vibrant niche, not with MSP-backed wheat or paddy, but with marigolds. Over the past decade, he has transformed his eight-acre farm into a floriculture hub, dedicating four acres to marigold cultivation across multiple seasons and varieties, while the remaining four acres are used for wheat and paddy during the rabi and kharif seasons, respectively. With plans to diversify into rose cultivation, Sukhdeep represents a quiet yet determined shift in Punjab's farming narrative. Sukhdeep, who holds a 10+2 qualification and an ITI diploma, began experimenting with flower cultivation on just half a bigha (2.5 kanals) in 2012, inspired by relatives already involved in the flower trade. With little experience and limited market knowledge, he initially struggled, unable even to sell his first batch of flowers. However, the encouraging yield motivated him to learn more about both cultivation techniques and market dynamics. 'We started with a small area, and after gaining market knowledge, we received a good response. Our relatives not only inspired us but also helped us with cultivation and in finding markets for our flowers,' he said. 'Now, we cultivate various varieties of marigolds in different shades of yellow, from light yellow to saffron and mustard, throughout the year with proper planning and crop rotation.' Sukhdeep grows seven-eight varieties of marigolds, both summer and winter types such as Jafari (African marigold), sown in winter, and Laddu Gainda, known for its large, round blooms grown in summer. He employs seed sowing, grafting and nursery techniques at different times of the year. For instance, during January and February, he sows seeds that flower in March and April. In March, he uses grafting techniques, resulting in blooms from May to June, which continue until August. From August to December, he plants nursery-grown saplings. In favourable weather, a single marigold plant can bloom eight to ten times. His marigold calendar is finely tuned: summer varieties — around four types — are sown between January and April and begin flowering within 2 to 2.5 months of sowing, producing blooms continuously for nearly three months. Jafari varieties are primarily cultivated for the winter season. Four different types are grown between August and February. One early variety is sown in August and starts flowering from October, aligning with festive season demand during Dussehra, Diwali, and Guru Purab (birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Master and founder of Sikhism). A second variety, sown in October-November, is ideal for Lohri and the New Year. The third and fourth varieties, sown in November–December, bloom from January to April, catering to wedding season demand. 'Though the marigold cycle can span nearly five and a half months, I usually restrict each cycle to around four to four and a half months. This is because the yield drops towards the end of the season, so I uproot the crop early and replant new varieties. This allows me to grow flowers at least three times on the same field in a year, using different varieties in different plots based on market demand,' Sukhdeep said. 'I also use one acre out of the four for growing a flower nursery between July and March. The nursery is ready in just 25 days, and I raise it 7-8 times during this period to sell saplings. From January to March, I grow nursery plants for summer marigolds two to three times, and then the same field is used again for flower cultivation from April to August. So, growing flowers is a year-round task,' he added. 'For some varieties, we procure seeds from Kolkata,' he added. He says he rotates the fields for flower sowing and does not use the same plots repeatedly. Sukhdeep sells his marigolds daily to local traders and decoration shops in Sangrur, Barnala and Ludhiana, sending the flowers on buses. Despite fluctuating prices — ranging from Rs 70 – Rs 80 to Rs 200 per kg — he manages to maintain a steady profit. 'There are a few off-season phases during the year when rates can drop to Rs 5–Rs 10 per kg, but regular sowing, high prices during festivals, and yields of 60-65 quintals per acre help ensure consistent returns,' he said, adding that on average, he earns Rs40–Rs50 per kg over the year. The total expenditure per acre is around Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 if the nursery is self-raised. However, if seeds are purchased from outside, the cost rises to Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per acre. Labour adds another Rs 10,000 per acre, making the overall cost roughly Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 per acre. 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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Pakistan building collapse: 14 killed, several trapped as search operations continue in Karachi
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NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
Search On For Survivors Of Pakistan Building Collapse
A five-storey building collapsed in Pakistan on Friday, killing at least eight people and injuring nine others, officials said, with rescuers searching through the rubble for more trapped victims. The incident happened shortly after 10:00 am (0500 GMT) in the impoverished Lyari neighbourhood of Karachi, which was once plagued by gang violence and considered one of the most dangerous areas in Pakistan. Up to 100 people had been living in the building, senior police officer Arif Aziz told AFP. Shankar Kamho, 30, a resident of the building who was out at the time, said around 20 families were living inside. "I got a call from my wife saying the building was cracking and I told her to get out immediately," he told AFP at the scene. "She went to warn the neighbours, but one woman told her 'this building will stand for at least 10 more years'. Still, my wife took our daughter and left. About 20 minutes later, the building collapsed." The Sindh provincial health department said the deaths have risen to eight killed and nine injured late Friday. The search for survivors continued into the night, with relatives gathered near the site waiting for news. Saad Edhi, of the Edhi welfare foundation that is part of the rescue operation, told AFP there could be "at least eight to 10 more people still trapped", describing it as a "worn-out building". Race Against Time Nearby residents rushed to save their neighbours before rescuers took over to remove the rubble, along with at least five excavators. The heavy machinery struggled to access the narrow alleys, and police baton-charged residents to clear the way. All six family members of 70-year-old Jumho Maheshwari were at his flat on the first floor when he left for work early in the morning. "Nothing is left for me now -- my family is all trapped and all I can do is pray for their safe recovery," he told AFP. Another resident, Maya Sham Jee, said her brother's family was also trapped under the rubble. "It's a tragedy for us. The world has been changed for our family," she told AFP. "We are helpless and just looking at the rescue workers to bring our loved ones back safely." In June 2020, at least 18 people were killed when a residential building housing about 40 apartments collapsed in the same area of the city. Roof and building collapses are common across Pakistan, mainly because of poor safety standards and shoddy construction materials in the South Asian country of more than 240 million people. But Karachi, home to more than 20 million, is especially notorious for poor construction, illegal extensions, ageing infrastructure, overcrowding, and lax enforcement of building regulations.
