Sonakshi Sarkar

An earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale was felt in several parts of Assam early Wednesday morning, causing brief panic among residents in different districts. The tremor occurred shortly after dawn, when many people were still at home, and was strong enough to be noticed indoors. According to preliminary seismic information, the epicentre of the earthquake is believed to be near Dhekiajuli. Mild to moderate shaking was reported from surrounding areas, including parts of Guwahati and nearby districts. Residents said they felt beds, doors, and windows shake for a few seconds, while some household items rattled briefly. There were…

The Indian National Congress has announced the formation of the State Election Committee of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) as the state prepares for Assembly elections later this year. Congress Member of Parliament Gaurav Gogoi has been appointed as the Chairman of the committee with immediate effect. The decision was conveyed through a letter dated February 3, issued by Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal. In the letter, Venugopal stated that the proposal for constituting the committee had received formal approval from the Indian National Congress President. The newly formed committee brings together a wide range of senior and…

From the wetlands of Assam’s Kaziranga National Park (KNP) emerges an ecological narrative regarding the evolution of the one-horned rhinoceros, influenced by climate change, vegetation shifts, invasive species, and herbivore activity. Factors such as rapid urbanization, industrialization, deforestation, and natural disasters contribute to global ecological degradation, particularly impacting biodiversity in Northeast India—a critical region within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot known for its endangered species. Scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences utilized pollen from sediment cores extracted from KNP’s Sohola swamp to uncover long-term palaeoecological records related to palaeoherbivory. Their research, published in the journal 'Catena,' reveals a stark…

Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are carrying out an intensive search operation along the stretch of the Gangadhar River in western Assam’s Dhubri district to trace three students who went missing on Tuesday after a country boat ferrying them capsized in the river. A group of 22 students had travelled to the riverine island to perform shraddh , a traditional funeral ritual when the mishap took place at Belpara Char in the Tamarhat area. According to witnesses, the boat lost balance midway through the return journey and overturned in the river. Even as most of the other…

On Tuesday morning, a tragic incident occurred in Khairani (Beltol Supa) village, located in the Baksa district of Assam, where two elderly individuals fell victim to a wild elephant. The incident took place around 5:30 am, as the elephant strayed from a nearby forest and attacked Gobinda Mizar, aged 75, and Umi Mizar, also known as Umi Maya Sarki, aged 60. Both suffered severe injuries as a result of the attack. Despite being rushed to Dr. Ravi Boro Civil Hospital for medical attention, Gobinda Mizar was pronounced dead upon arrival. Umi Mizar sustained serious injuries primarily to her left leg…

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership following the announcement of an India–United States trade understanding that will lower tariffs on Indian products exported to the American market. Under the new understanding, tariffs on Made in India goods entering the United States will be reduced to 15 per cent. The Chief Minister described the move as an important step for India’s manufacturing and export sectors, saying it would help Indian products reach a wider global market and improve competitiveness. Taking to social media platform X, Sarma said the decision would create fresh…

The Assam Police organised a National Capacity Building Workshop in Guwahati with a focus on cybersecurity, cyber hygiene, and financial safety. The day-long programme brought together police officers, members of civil society, and representatives of community-based organisations to discuss growing digital risks and ways to respond to them in a practical manner. The workshop was held under the Sishu Mitra Programme and aimed at improving awareness and preparedness at both the institutional and community levels. With the increasing use of digital platforms for communication, banking, and services, the organisers said there was a clear need to strengthen understanding of cyber…