Sonakshi Sarkar

Guwahati is currently experiencing a spell of very cold weather, and because of this, all government and provincialised schools in the Kamrup (Metropolitan) district will remain closed for one week starting from December 31, 2025. The decision has been taken by the district education authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of school students during the severe cold conditions being reported across the city. Officials said the order was issued on December 30 after the district administration reviewed the weather situation. The advisory came from the Office of the District Elementary Education Officer-cum-District Mission Coordinator under Samagra Shiksha, Kamrup (Metro).…

Basing operations on credible intelligence, the Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police executed multiple raids in Assam and Tripura, resulting in the arrest of 11 members of the radical Islamic module called Imam Mahmuder Kafila (IMK), linked to a Bangladesh-based terrorist group. The arrests occurred across Barpeta, Chirang, Baksa, and Darrang districts in Assam on December 29 and 30. The suspects include individuals aged between 22 to 46, mainly from Barpeta and Baksa districts, as well as Tripura. The STF’s actions were influenced by careful monitoring of jihadi activities in North East India, particularly in light of recent developments…

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi has alleged that the arson incident at Molai Kathoni, the forest created by noted environmentalist Jadav Payeng, could not have taken place without backing from people in power. He said no miscreant would dare to harm such an important forest area unless they were confident of protection from the government. Molai Kathoni is a well-known man-made forest that grew over several decades on a sandbar of the Brahmaputra River. It was developed through the personal effort of Jadav Payeng, who is often referred to as the “Forest Man…

Demow Rural Hospital has successfully recorded zero snakebite-related deaths for five consecutive years (2021-2025), exemplifying effective healthcare management in rural settings. This achievement stems from the implementation of protocol-based treatment, extensive training of staff, and strong community involvement in addressing snakebite cases. Snakebites remain a significant public health issue in Assam, predominantly impacting rural and economically vulnerable groups. Traditionally, victims were sent to tertiary care centers due to fears regarding inadequate local resources. However, Demow Rural Hospital's experience indicates that prompt and consistent management of snakebite envenomation can be effectively managed at peripheral healthcare institutions. Since initiating snakebite treatment services…

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Batadrava Than Redevelopment Project in Nagaon district, Assam, accompanied by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The project, which cost around Rs 217 crore and spans 162 bighas of land freed from encroachment, aims to preserve the cultural legacy of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva, a significant Vaishnavite saint-reformer. The redevelopment creates a spiritual and cultural complex featuring the world's tallest Guru Asana, artistically designed guest houses, an art center inspired by traditional cymbals, a khol-shaped research center, a boat-themed skill development facility, and a theatre influenced by a traditional japi.…

In a notable advancement reflecting the rise of student-led entrepreneurship and deep-tech innovation, IIT Guwahati's startup, Genuity IO Pvt. Ltd., engaged nearly 2,000 students from 23 IITs during the Inter IIT Tech Meet 14.0. As a BioNEST-incubated venture founded by Adari Karthikeya and Shivansh Gupta, both third-year IIT Guwahati students, Genuity IO designed and presented a no-prep problem statement centered on algorithmic optimization. This initiative encouraged participants to apply critical thinking and innovative solutions to real-world technical challenges. The startup's active involvement in this prominent national technical event highlights IIT Guwahati's thriving ecosystem for deep-tech innovation and entrepreneurship, distinguishing it…

The Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has recorded a significant rise in footfall, particularly foreign tourists, over the past four years during October to December. According to data provided by the park authorities on Sunday, the number of foreign tourists during the first three months of the visiting season leading up to the New Year has increased from 2947 in 2022-23 to 6699 in 2025-2026 (till December 27, 2025). In 2022-23 (October to December), the national park witnessed a footfall of 1,32,286 tourists (1,29,339 Indian tourists and 2949 foreign tourists) as against a footfall of 1,17,416 tourists (1,13,322 Indian…

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested an Assam resident, Rumi Kalita, for her alleged role in a large cyber fraud case involving more than Rs 7 crore. The case relates to a “digital arrest” scam in which a Ludhiana-based industrialist, S. P. Oswal, was tricked into transferring money after fraudsters posed as government officials. Officials said the ED took Kalita into custody after carrying out searches at 11 locations across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Assam under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. During these searches, the agency said it recovered several important documents and digital devices linked to…