Assam: BVFCL signs five-year fertilizer export deal with Bhutans NSC
Dibrugarh: The Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL), a Government of India undertaking under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has signed a five-year Business-to-Business (B2B) agreement with the National Seed Centre (NSC), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Royal Government of Bhutan, for the export of fertilizers to Bhutan. Under the agreement, BVFCL will supply [] The post Assam: BVFCL signs five-year fertilizer export deal with Bhutans NSC appeared first on NorthEast Now .
IndiGo flight makes sudden go around at Guwahati airport
GUWAHATI, Aug 17: An IndiGo flight from Dibrugarh to Guwahati on Sunday made a sudden go around seconds before landing at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport here, officials said. There has been no impact on the carrier or any passenger due to this move of the flight, a source from the airline told PTI. []
IndiGo flight makes sudden 'go around' at Guwahati airport
An IndiGo flight 6E-187, traveling from Dibrugarh to Guwahati, executed a go-around just before landing at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport due to unspecified reasons. The airline source clarified that this is a standard safety procedure when pilots encounter issues during landing. The flight subsequently landed safely on its second attempt and continued its onward journey after completing formalities.
Ethnic groups in Upper Assam gives ultimatum to illegal settlers
DIBRUGARH, Aug 12: Supporting Assam governments steps to evict alleged encroachments from various forests, several ethnic organisations have started Miya Kheda Andolan (movement to drive out Miyas) in many districts of the state. The Miya Kheda Andolan has gained momentum in Upper Assam districts in recent times with local groups accusing the Miya settlers of []
Dibrugarh launches vaccination drive for stray dogs
Dibrugarh University launches Korean language Wall Magazine
Operation Falcon saves Assam rhinos, says CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
GUWAHATI: The Assam government has achieved a significant success in protecting the one-horned rhinos the pride of the state from poachers since it launched Operation Falcon. Operation Falcon is a collaborative effort of the Assam Police and the Assam Forest Department launched last year. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted a video of Operation Falcon through X on Monday, stating, it was breaking the back of poaching and illegal animal trade. According to the video, the killings of two rhinos prompted a rethink in anti-poaching strategy vis--vis the launch of Operation Falcon against poachers. #OperationFalcon breaking the back of poaching and illegal animal trade. @assampolice @assamforest pic.twitter.com/r0B7jvYYHG Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 11, 2025 Stating that poachers were chased ruthlessly using all available resources, the video said coordination and spirit of the personnel helped arrest 42 poachers 18 in Biswanath, eight in Darrang, six in Nagaon, five in Karbi Anglong, two in Sonitpur and one each in Udalguri, Dibrugarh and Cachar districts. Poachers were tracked through extensive use of on-ground and digital intelligence, according to the video. Under this operation, international and interstate nexus were identified. Six major rhino-poaching gangs, linked to illegal trade through Myanmar, were identified, while nine rhino poaching attempts were foiled, the video further stated. On the World Rhino Day last year, Sarma had stated that the poaching of the animal dropped by 86% since the BJP rose to power in Assam in 2016. Ahead of that years Assembly elections, the party had promised that it would protect the rhinos if voted to power. So far this year, no rhinos has been killed According to the rhino census of 2022, Assam has 2,895 rhinos 2,613 of them in the 1,300 sq km Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve. Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, and Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve have 125, 107 and 50 rhinos respectively. Poaching dropped drastically especially after Sarma had donned the chief ministers mantle in May 2021. That year, only one rhino was killed while 2022 was incident-free. One rhino was killed in 2023 and two last year. This year has been incident-free so far. Between 2001 and 2016, when the Congress was in power in the state, several rhinos were killed by the poachers every year, particularly in Kaziranga.
Assam eviction drives aimed at 'creating narrative' before assembly polls: Experts
GUWAHATI: With the Assam government vowing to carry out a series of evictions to clear encroachments, political and social experts have criticised such move, saying that it is aimed at creating a 'narrative' ahead of the assembly elections next year. Eminent people from different fields voiced their 'concern' in the manner the eviction drives are being conducted and alleged that people from different communities are brought to buffer zones of inter-state borders to protect it from aggression from neighbouring states, which have already occupied a huge chunk of Assam land. The state government has carried out at least nine major eviction drives since June this year, affecting several thousand people. The agenda of the recent evictions is not clearing encroachments, but to set a narrative in Upper Assam. 'Inhuman': Massive eviction drive launched in Assam's Golaghat; over 1500 Muslim families affected After Gaurav Gogoi's Lok Sabha win last year and post his appointment as Congress state chief, there has been a 'pro-Gaurav wave' in Upper Assam districts, eminent neurosurgeon Navanil Barua told PTI here. The ruling BJP is trying to create a Hindu-Muslim narrative with these eviction drives and some local organisations have already held 'anti-Miya' protests, he added. I am sure that after March 2026, it will stop, and we may not hear about encroachment by Miyas for a long time thereafter, said Barua, also a political commentator. 'Miya' is originally a pejorative term used for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, and the non-Bengali-speaking people generally identify them as Bangladeshi immigrants. Referring to the massive eviction drive at Rengma Reserve Forest recently, Handique Girls' College Assistant Professor (Political Science) Pallavi Deka said that, as the people were evicted without proper rehabilitation, it was more than just the government's reported attempt to save the jungle. The narrative building by the ruling party to 'save indigenous tribal commons' from illegal encroachers points towards a fierce communal polarisation in and around the upcoming elections, she added. In the last 10 days, the Assam government has cleared alleged encroachments from 10,537 bighas (over 1,400 hectares) of land from Rengma Reserve Forest, Nambor South Reserve Forest and Doyang Reserve Forest in Golaghat district, and Village Grazing Reserve in Lakhimpur. These drives have displaced around 2,200 families, mostly from the Bengali-speaking Muslim community. 114 families evicted from village grazing reserve land in Assam's Lakhimpur: Officials On these recent evictions, eminent advocate Santanu Borthakur said: If it is a forest land, then whosoever stays there for whatever longer period, it does not give them legal rights to settle there permanently. However, targeting only one community, as seen in the recent cases in Golaghat is absolutely discriminatory, he added. The CM's recent comment that no eviction will take place against people from other communities is anti-Constitution and not permitted by law, Borthakur said. In Rengma, 1,500 Muslim families were evicted. The remaining families are from Bodo, Nepali, Manipuri and other communities, who have certificates from the Forest Rights Committee (FRC). According to Kaustubh Deka, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Dibrugarh University, the eviction drive is a significant and sensitive moment for the state, and the whole episode highlights the critical bearing of the state's complex socio-political history. The government must maintain a fair balance between three aspects. One, the allegation that genuine Indian citizens are being selectively targeted, needs to be addressed in all earnestness. Two, the rights given to people under progressive environmental legislations such as 'Forest Rights Act' need to be respected, he added. Also, care should be taken that the ongoing process doesn't trigger complications in Assam's already volatile border dispute scenario with many of its neighbouring states, Deka said. Talking about alleged encroachments in inter-state border areas in Rengma, advocate Borthakur said that normally in border areas, the government settles people in the buffer zones so that no encroachment takes place from the opposite side. We can see such habitation in all border areas. Usually minorities, Gorkha and Bihari people, are settled in such locations, he added. Barua too supported his claim and said that in all the border areas with neighbouring states, usually people or communities originally from outside are settled. The indigenous people usually do not live there. People from communities like Adivasis, Gorkhas and minorities live in such areas, he added. The reserve forests witnessing recent evictions are along Assam-Nagaland border, where people from the neighbouring state had allegedly attempted to occupy land. The evicted people claimed that their previous generation was settled in the forest by the Golap Borbora government in 1978-79 and the AGP government, which came to power in 1985. Borthakur said, Without considering the historical background, carrying out an eviction is not appropriate. Legally, the government has the power, but the manner in which that power was exercised is not acceptable. It is inhuman and arbitrary. He also stressed that evicting people without rehabilitation is wrong. Echoing similar sentiments, Deka said, This is against all democratic norms and practices. Utterly inhumane. Even the Supreme Court judgement says that even pavement dwellers can not be evicted without rehabilitation.
Assam: Eight Injured in Major Road Accident on Khowang Flyover, Three Critical
HT DIGITAL DIBRUGARH, AUGUST 4: A serious road crash on the new Khowang flyover in Assams Dibrugarh district injured eight individuals early on Monday morning. Three of the victims are said to be in critical condition. The crash took place when an unidentified speeding night bus collided with two private cars carrying pilgrims to a []
Patricide shocker in Dibrugarh
HT Correspondent DIBRUGARH, Aug 3: In a sensational case that has left residents of Lahon Gaon in Barbaruah stunned, police have arrested four persons including the wife and teenage daughter in connection with the murder of a local businessman whose body was recovered from his residence on July 25. The deceased, Uttam Gogoi []
Assam Man Found Dead, Wife And Daughter Plotted Murder, Gave Robbery Angle
A businessman was allegedly killed by his wife and teenage daughter in Assam's Dibrugarh. The case has shocked their neighbours in the district's Barbaruah neighbourhood.
Concerns over production decline
HT Correspondent DIBRUGARH, July 31: The ongoing drought-like conditions in Assam have begun to significantly affect the states tea industry, with planters reporting a notable decline in production and increased stress on tea bushes due to erratic rainfall and rising temperatures. According to industry officials, the prolonged dry spell and rainfall deficit have caused tea []
7-Year-Old Runs After Ball, Falls Into Open Fire Safety Tank In Assam, Dies
A 7-year-old boy was found dead after falling into a deep uncovered fire safety tank in a housing complex in Assam's Dibrugarh today.
May declare drought if rainfall deficit persists: Himanta Biswa Sarma
HT Correspondent DIBRUGARH, July 25: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday stated that the state government will be compelled to officially declare a drought if the current rainfall deficit does not improve in the coming days. Addressing reporters on the sidelines of an event in Dibrugarh, the Chief Minister informed that the situation is []
Assam CM lays foundation for Rs 65-cr administrative Hub in Dibrugarh
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma initiated a project in Dibrugarh. He laid the foundation for a Ministers Office, convention centre, and offices for key officials. This Rs 65 crore project aims to develop Dibrugarh as Assam's second capital. The new infrastructure will improve administrative outreach in Upper Assam.
CM unveils projects worth over 500 crore in Dibrugarh
HT Correspondent DIBRUGARH, July 24: In a significant push to strengthen medical education and academic infrastructure in Upper Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday laid the foundation stones for major infrastructure projects at Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) and Dibrugarh University. According to an official statement, a 357 crore project has been []
Naharkatia to see Rs 130-crore boost in infrastructure
HT Bureau GUWAHATI, July 24: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday laid the foundation stones for several major infrastructure projects in Naharkatia, Dibrugarh district, signalling a substantial public investment worth approximately 130 crore across education, sports, transport, administration, and skill development sectors. According to an official statement, the initiative includes the construction of a []
Muslim population in Assam will be almost equal to Hindus by 2041: Himanta
DIBRUGARH, July 23: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday claimed that the population of Muslims in Assam will be almost equal to that of the Hindus by 2041 if the current growth rate is maintained. Addressing a press conference after a cabinet meeting here, Sarma claimed that out of around 34 per cent Muslims []
Rupee 150 crore sanctioned under MOITRI scheme
HT Bureau GUWAHATI, July 23: The Assam Cabinet, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, convened its meeting at the Chief Ministers Secretariat in Dibrugarh on Wednesday and approved a series of important decisions aimed at improving police infrastructure, creating administrative efficiencies, expanding employment opportunities, and enhancing urban amenities. According to an official []
Dibrugarh University BEd CET result 2025 declared at dibru.ac.in, check steps to download and more
Dibrugarh University announced the B.Ed Common Entrance Test (CET) 2025 results on July 18, 2025. Candidates can access their scorecards on the university's official website using their roll number and application number. Those scoring 30.00 or above are eligible for admission into the NCTE-recognized B.Ed Programme for the 2025-26 session.
NIA arrests two more in Guwahati IED case on Independence Day 2024
The NIA has apprehended Bhargob Gogoi and Sumu Gogoi, both from Dibrugarh, for their involvement in the ULFA-I's plot to detonate IEDs across Assam, including the Dispur Last Gate blast on Independence Day 2024. These arrests bring the total number of individuals in custody to three, as the investigation into the conspiracy widens.
AI Revenge Porn Shocker: Dibrugarh Police Arrest Man For Morphing Ex-Classmate's Photos
Once unknown outside her community, the victim suddenly found herself at the centre of a storm on social media platforms, where she was portrayed as a budding pornographic figure.
Assam woman defamed with AI-generated porn after fake link to adult film industry; engineer arrested
DIBRUGARH: A person has been arrested in Assam's Tinsukia district for allegedly morphing photographs and creating AI-generated pornographic videos of a woman and circulating those on social media, a senior police officer said on Sunday. Dibrugarh Senior Superintendent of Police (in-charge) Sizal Agarwal said a complaint was received from the victim on Saturday stating that morphed images and videos were being used to defame her. The victim had been in the spotlight for the last few weeks after her purported image with an adult film actor surfaced, with claims that the Assam woman has joined the adult film industry in the US. We received a complaint yesterday that the morphed and AI-generated photos and videos of the victim were being circulated on social media. The reference of an Instagram page was included with it, and when we searched for credentials of the page owner, we found a phone number which we traced to the accused, Agarwal said. The accused had used the image of the victim to generate several obscene content and pornographic materials using AI software. They have a past acquaintance, and he did it due to personal reasons, he added. The accused, a mechanical engineer by qualification, was arrested from Tinsukia on Saturday night, the SSP (in-charge) said. Agarwal said the crime, which initially started as a harassment tactic, continued when the accused began monetising the content. There was a subscription link to the adult content that he had posted, and people had to pay to access it. He earned about Rs 10 lakh through it. He kept on continuing the crime as he got greedy, though he had initiated it for harassing the woman, she said. The officer said multiple agencies will be involved in the investigation as digital evidence has to be examined, with the police seizing laptop, mobile phones, hard disk and other items from the accused. Agarwal also urged people to be careful while accessing online content and, have a closer look before circulating any information they receive on social media.
Centre aims 50k jobs for Northeast youth in maritime sector in over ten years
GUWAHATI: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, on July 7, announced 50,000 jobs for the youth of the Northeast in the maritime sector over the next 10 years following training. Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, he said the Maritime Skill Development Centre in Guwahati and the upcoming Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Dibrugarh would aim to power this transformation. Stating that the CoE will be developed with an investment of Rs 200 crore, he said both centres were likely to generate 5,000 jobs annually. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has always envisioned how Yuva Shakti can bring about real transformation in the country. Our vision is to train, enable and empower 50,000 youth from the Northeast with world-class maritime skills over the next decade, ensuring meaningful employment and growth, Sonowal said. He further stated that Indias maritime sector went through a transformation over the past 11 years with record growth in cargo handling, capacity and coastal shipping. Major ports have nearly doubled their capacity while cruise tourism is rising with ambitious new terminals, he added. Key legislative and digital reforms, green shipping initiatives and projects like the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project are strengthening regional connectivity and trade. Indias ports are now globally competitive, with nine ranking in the World Banks top 100, and Visakhapatnam Port reaching the top 20, Sonowal said. He also said that from the historic growth in port capacity and cargo handling to pioneering green shipping, cruise tourism and skill development for the youth, achievements reflected the Modi governments unwavering commitment to make India a global maritime powerhouse and drive inclusive development across every coastal and riverine region. Sonowal also said the ministry undertook projects worth Rs 1,000 crore in the Northeasts inland waterways sector over the past two years, with Rs 300 crore works completed and Rs 700 crore slated for completion by 2025. Major initiatives include permanent cargo terminals at Pandu, Jogighopa, Dhubri, Bogibeel, Karimganj and Badarpur; year-round fairway dredging; a new approach road to Pandu Port; heritage restoration in Dibrugarh; tourist jetties worth Rs 299 crore; skill development centres at Guwahati and Dibrugarh; and plans for lighthouses at Bogibeel, Biswanath Ghat, Silghat and Pandu, the minister said. To a query, he said the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project a strategic initiative to enhance connectivity between the Northeast and Myanmar is set to be fully operational by 2027.
Central Govt Targets 50,000 Maritime Jobs For Northeast Youth In Next 10 Years
Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Silghat, Biswanath to get lighthouses doubling as weather centres and tourist spots
J&K-Born IAS Officer Jay Vikas Takes Over As First Commissioner Of DMC In Assam
JAMMU, Jul 2: Jay Vikas, an IAS officer from Jammu and Kashmir, has been appointed as the first Commissioner of the Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation (DMC) in Assam. A 2021 batch IAS officer, Jay Vikas, who took the charge on June 9, was earlier serving as Co-District Commissioner of North Salmara. As per an Assam Government order, he will also hold the additional post of Deputy Secretary in the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs, Assam. The posting followed Chief Minister [] The post J&K-Born IAS Officer Jay Vikas Takes Over As First Commissioner Of DMC In Assam appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
128-year-old mosque demolished in Dibrugarh
Authorities have demolished a 128-year-old mosque in Assam's Dibrugarh to construct a drainage system for solving the waterlogging problem in the town, officials said on Thursday.
Guwahati Diary | Solar fence to mitigate human-elephant conflict
In a bid to mitigate human-elephant conflict and facilitate co-existence, biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak has installed a 30.1-km solar fence covering three project villages in Jorhat district in collaboration with the British Asian Trust and the Elephant Family with support from the Darwin Initiative. The project has benefitted over 1,047 households affected by human-elephant conflict. There was a time when herds of wild elephants would wreak havoc in these villages while foraging for crops, causing immense hardship to the agrarian community. However, the installation of these solar-powered fences helped significantly ease the problem. 15K bighas of satra land encroached upon: CM The satras monastic institutions within Assams neo-Vaishnavite tradition have lost over 15,000 bighas of their land to encroachment. Taking a serious view of it, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma noted that an area twice the size of Dispur had been encroached upon. The sheer scale of encroachment of the satras is a direct assault on Assams culture and identity. Not anymore. We are dealing firmly with this, he posted on X. The Satra Aayog, constituted by the government for reviewing and assessing the problems of satra land in Assam, has submitted its final report to Sarma with its recommendations. IED case: ULFA chief, 2 others chargesheeted The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah and two other members of the banned insurgent group Abhijit Gogoi and Jahnu Boruah for a conspiracy to carry out multiple IED blasts in Assam on Independence Day last year. During the probe, the NIA found that as many as 11 IEDs were planted in different parts of the state, including Guwahati. However, none of them exploded. The investigation agency says the plot was meant to cause deaths and unrest. Boruah, who has reportedly admitted to planting four of the IEDs, was arrested from Dibrugarh in December. Prasanta Mazumdar Our correspondent in Guwahati prasantamazumdar@newindianexpress.com
Heatwave Breaks June Temperature Record In 2 Northeast Cities
The northeast region is witnessing a severe heatwave, with the cities of Itanagar and Dibrugarh breaking their June temperature records on Thursday.
Assam flood situation improves further, 4.43 lakh still affected
GUWAHATI: The flood situation in Assam improved further on Friday following a decline in the rains. No death was reported in the state during the past 24 hours but one person was reported missing. Manipur reported three deaths which took the Northeast flood and landslide toll to 53. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 4,43,560 people across 18 districts are still affected by the floods in Assam. Over 40,000 of them were taking shelter in relief camps. Cropland remained affected in areas of 16,558.59 hectares. The affected districts were Cachar, Nagaon, Sribhumi, Hailakandi, Kamrup, Hojai, Dibrugarh, Bongaigaon, Morigaon, Darrang, Golaghat, Dhemaji, Goalpara, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Jorhat and Kamrup (Metro). The Brahmaputra and four other rivers were flowing above the danger level in some places, the ASDMA said. A flood report issued by the Manipur government said 1,65,936 people remained affected in the state. Altogether 35,385 houses were damaged by the floods and landslides. The state recorded altogether 160 incidents of landslides. As the rains have now subsided, Meitei organisation Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity urged the state government to provide compensation to the victims after conducting a comprehensive field survey. Several areas of the Imphal Valley have remained inundated. The organisation stressed on pumping out the water. The flood situation also improved in Arunachal Pradesh. A government statement said 33,200 people remained affected in 215 villages of 24 districts. The authorities set up three relief camps where 239 displaced people were lodged. Changlang in eastern Arunachal is one of the worst-hit districts. Meanwhile, all the stranded tourists were reportedly evacuated from Chaten in North Sikkim which was badly hit by landslides. Mizoram was ravaged by around 700 landslides and rains which damaged water pipelines at many places. Foreseeing a crisis of water, the state government advised citizens to harvest rainwater.
Assam flood situation remains critical; Met Department predicts more rain
GUWAHATI : The flood situation in Assam remained grim on Monday with the water levels rising in many parts of the state, officials said. The India Meteorological Department's Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati has said that moderate rainfall is very likely to occur at most places of Assam, while heavy to very heavy rainfall has been predicted at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall in isolated places. A report by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) on Sunday night said that two more people lost their lives in Cachar and Sribhumi districts, and around four lakh people are reeling under the deluge across 15 districts. The total number of people losing their lives in this year's flood and landslides has increased to 10. Cachar is the worst hit with over one lakh people affected, followed by 85,000 people in Sribhumi and 62,000 in Nagaon, it added. The administration has been operating 155 relief camps and relief distribution centres in 12 districts, taking care of 10,272 displaced people at present. The authorities have distributed 1,090.08 quintals of rice, 284.63 quintals of dal, 952.76 quintals of salt and 4,726.26 litres of mustard oil among the flood victims of the state during the last 24 hours. At present, 764 villages are under water and 3,524.38 hectares of crop areas have been damaged across Assam, the ASDMA said. More than 19,000 people affected by Manipur floods, 3,365 houses damaged Embankments, roads, bridges and other infrastructure have been damaged by flood waters in many districts across the state. At present, the mighty Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark at Dibrugarh and Nimatighat. Its tributaries Dhansiri at Numaligarh and Kopili at Kampur are flowing above the danger level. The Barak is flowing above the danger mark at Badarpur Ghat, while its tributary Kushiyara at Sribhumi and Katakhal in Matizuri are also flowing above the danger mark, ASDMA said. The situation is likely to worsen for the people living in low-lying and river bank areas due to continued heavy rainfall in the state and neighbouring areas, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma cautioned on Sunday evening. Union Home Minister Amit Shah dialled Sarma to take stock of the situation and assured of all possible assistance, as multiple agencies remained engaged in rescue and relief operations. Fourteen stranded people were evacuated by an IAF helicopter from the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. Road, railway and ferry services have been hit in different parts as most parts of the state continued receiving rain over the past few days. 31 killed in flash floods, landslides over two days as heavy rains pound Northeast
Teesta Rivers water level significantly rises due to heavy rain in Sikkim; Brahmaputra river overflows, floods low-lying areas in Assams Dibrugarh
Heavy rain continues to batter Assam, disrupting train services and road transport
GUWAHATI: Relentless rainfall continued to lash Assam on Sunday, severely disrupting road and rail transport across the northeastern state. According to officials, at least eight people have died so far due to floods and landslides. More than 78,000 residents across over 15 districts have been affected, prompting widespread concern. The Central Water Commission (CWC) has issued an 'orange bulletin' for Assam, warning of a severe flood situation as ten major rivers including the Brahmaputra and Barak are currently flowing above the danger level. A spokesperson for Northeast Frontier Railway stated that, following incessant rainfall in the past 24 hours and water overflowing onto the tracks in the BaraigramDullabcherra section, the DullabcherraSilchar passenger train has been cancelled for the day. Additionally, the DullabcherraGuwahati Express will now originate from Baraigram instead of Dullabcherra. Heavy rain causes floods in parts of Assam, five killed in landslides In Kamrup district, large portions of National Highway-17 have been inundated near Shingra Shalnibari in the Chaygaon area since Saturday. Officials noted that the situation has been worsened by heavy runoff from neighbouring Meghalaya. Authorities are taking measures to redirect traffic via alternative routes to maintain connectivity. According to the CWC bulletin, the Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark in Dibrugarh and Nematighat (Jorhat). Other rivers breaching danger levels include: Dhaleswari at Gharmura (Hailakandi), Rukni at Dholai (Cachar), Katakhal at Matijuri (Hailakandi), Barak at Badarpur Ghat (Sribhumi), Buridehing at Margherita (Tinsukia), Kushiyara in Sribhumi, Dhansiri at Numaligarh (Golaghat) and Kopili at Kampur (Nagaon) An Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin reported that, as of Saturday evening, five people had died in landslides and three in floods. Three western districts were placed on 'red alert' on Saturday, while eight others were under an 'orange alert', according to the Regional Meteorological Centre. Rainwater from upstream regions of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya has further exacerbated the flooding. Multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and fire and emergency services, have been deployed for rescue and relief efforts. Evacuation operations are underway in the worst-affected areas. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday that the state is facing an abnormal situation due to persistent downpours triggered by a massive cloud cover across several parts of the Northeast.
Top ULFA (I) leader Rupam Asom arrested near Assam-Arunachal Border
DIBRUGARH: n a major breakthrough, a top leader of the banned militant outfit ULFA (I), Rupam Asom, has been arrested from a forested area near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, police said on Saturday. Security forces also recovered arms and ammunition from his possession during the operation, which was launched on Friday night based on specific intelligence inputs. Rupam Asom, named in the NIA charge sheet for the 2018 killing of Bordumsa Police Station officer-in-charge Bhaskar Kalita, was allegedly running ULFA (I)s extortion network across parts of eastern Assam. Rupam Asom is the key figure behind extortion activities in eastern Assam. We had credible information about his presence near the interstate border. An operation was planned, and he was apprehended, a senior police officer said. The officer added that Rupam and his group had been operating from the jungle near the Assam-Arunachal border, using the remote terrain to evade arrest while continuing their extortion activities. Following Rupam's arrest, a manhunt has been launched to track down other members of the banned organization hiding in the border areas.
India to defer world's longest river cruise via Bangladesh amid political unrest
India has decided to defer the worlds longest river cruise from Varanasi to Dibrugarh via Dhaka due to political instability in Bangladesh. The cruise, which operates along the 3,200-km India-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route, has seen reduced interest from foreign tourists following adverse travel advisories after the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government.
Attempt to derail 2 trains, including Rajdhani, foiled in UP
The loco pilot of a Rajdhani Express (20504) on its way to Dibrugarh in Assam from Delhi applied the emergency brake after spotting the obstruction. He removed it and informed railway officials, police said.
Train derailment attempts foiled in Uttar Pradesh; wooden blocks found on tracks
Two suspected attempts to derail trains, including the high-profile Rajdhani Express, were narrowly averted in Uttar Pradesh's Hardoi district, thanks to the vigilance of train drivers, PTI reported on Tuesday. According to officials, the incidents occurred on Monday evening between Dalelnagar and Umartali stations, near kilometre marker 1129/14. Unidentified individuals allegedly tied wooden blocks to the railway tracks using earthing wire, posing a serious risk to passing trains. The first obstruction was spotted by the loco pilot of the 20504 Rajdhani Express, which was en route from Delhi to Dibrugarh in Assam. Acting swiftly, the driver applied emergency brakes, brought the train to a halt, removed the obstruction, and alerted railway authorities. Shortly afterward, a similar attempt was made to derail the 15044 Kathgodam Express, which was following the Rajdhani.This incident too was thwarted. Government Railway Police (GRP), Railway Protection Force (RPF), and local police are jointly investigating the matter, Superintendent of Police Neeraj Kumar Jadaun told PTI.
Vivek Express is India's longest train journey, covering 4,189 km from Dibrugarh to Kanyakumari in 75 hours across 9 states.
Assam: Counting underway for panchayat polls; tight security in Kamrup, Dibrugarh
Vote counting for Assam's panchayat elections started Sunday amid tight security. Kamrup district officials prepared for smooth counting at multiple locations. Dibrugarh saw Assam Power Minister Prasanta Phukan express confidence in the BJP's victory. The elections occurred in two phases across 27 districts. Over 1.80 crore voters participated in the polls. Results are awaited.
A definitive cure for snake bite
ASSAM : In 2006, Dr Surajit Giri faced a moment that would shape the rest of his career. A woman bitten by a snake was rushed into emergency ward of a private hospital in Assams Sivasagar district, where Giri had just begun working after completing his post-graduation in anaesthesiology. He was not trained in treating snakebites, so he referred her to the Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh. She died on the way. Though no one blamed him, the incident haunted him. She had two children; they were inconsolable. I was helpless, he recalls. She had respiratory problems. Being a trained ICU physician, I could have kept her on ventilation, but I didnt know what to do next. Antivenom was available, but I didnt dare to administer it. Now, nearly two decades later, hospitals across Assam are saving snakebite victims, thanks to a treatment model pioneered by Dr Giri and his team at the Demow Rural Community Health Centre in Sivasagar, where he has worked since 2008. After the womans death, Giri spent the next two years raising awareness about snakebite treatment, encouraging families to seek hospital care over traditional healers. He learned that most snakebite cases in Assam involved non-venomous snakes and that timely care could save lives. Still, until 2017, the Demow hospital had not treated a single case it lacked an ICU, and families continued to place trust in local quacks. That year, a child bitten by a snake was brought dead to the hospital. A quack attempted to revive him just outside the facility, in full view of onlookers. That incident was a turning point, he says. Giri resolved that rural hospitals needed to be equipped to treat snakebites. Dr Surajit Giri In August 2018, the Demow health centre administered antivenom to a patient for the first time. Since then, Giri and his team have developed a comprehensive model that includes community engagement, early response, hospital preparedness and a trained medical network. A Fast Response Team of healthcare workers and a Venom Response Team of community volunteers were formed. The volunteers were trained to recognise symptoms, provide basic care, and ensure patients reached the hospital swiftly. A helpline was set up, and a WhatsApp group was created for real-time coordination among doctors and health workers. Between 2018 and now, the Demow health centre has treated 2,838 snakebite patients. Only one person died, having arrived too late. Since 2021, there has not been a single snakebite death recorded at the hospital, Giri says. Encouraged by the success, Giris team began working with the Assam government to implement the model across the state. There were over 150 deaths in 2022. It came down to 37 in 2023, 36 in 2024, and only two so far this year both cases arrived late, he says. The team has conducted 510 awareness campaigns, trained 1,500 medical officers under the National Health Mission, and collaborated with snake rescuers, herpetologists, and researchers. The partnership yielded the first Assam-specific snakebite treatment protocol, adapted from national guidelines to suit the regions unique ecology. We came to know of the snake species found in Assam, their venom and its composition, symptoms of snakebite and amount of antivenom that needs to be administered, the pioneer says. Endorsed by the Assam government in November 2024, the treatment protocol accounts for the states six venomous snake species Pit Viper, Monocled Cobra, Black Krait, Banded Krait, Red Necked Keelback, and Russells Viper. Giris team found that only 16% of snakebites in Assam are venomous, a stark contrast to the national figure of 30%.
Assam Panchayat polls: CM Sarma to campaign in three districts on Monday
Guwahati: With Panchayat polls due in Assam within a week, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been vigorously campaigning for the BJP candidates across the state. CM Sarma campaigned in Barak valley and Dibrugarh in the last two days, and is set to hold several public rallies in Biswanath, Sonitpur and Nagaon districts on Monday. Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
