Blog - The Purbottar

23 Feb

Indian Army rescues stranded tourists in East Sikkim under Operation Himrahat

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

In response to heavy snowfall in East Sikkim's high-altitude areas, the Indian Army launched Operation Himrahat on Sunday, dedicated to rescuing stranded locals and tourists affected by extreme weather. The sudden and intense snowfall, coupled with sub-zero temperatures, resulted in numerous tourist vehicles getting stranded on perilous road sections, endangering the safety of civilians. Demonstrating operational readiness, Army troops quickly mobilized to the impacted regions to begin relief and rescue operations. The operation successfully rescued 46 tourists, who were then transported to the nearest Army camp. There, they received immediate medical evaluations, warm shelter, hot meals, heating arrangements, and essential…

23 Feb

Assam govt, Walmart Vriddhi ink MoU to empower MSMEs, target 1 lakh enterprises by 2028

Business BureauBusiness

The Government of Assam has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Walmart Vriddhi to boost growth and digital empowerment of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the state. The agreement was signed with the Department of Industries, Commerce and Public Enterprises and implemented through Walmart Vriddhi’s program partner, Ideas to Impact Foundation. Under the partnership, MSMEs will receive free training, mentoring and business tools to modernize and scale operations, including onboarding on eCommerce platforms such as Flipkart. The initiative supports Walmart Vriddhi’s national target to empower an additional 100,000 MSMEs by 2028. The Assam government will facilitate outreach…

23 Feb

In Haflong, frequent power cuts and billing issues spark public anger

Banasree SarkarAssam

The district's everyday life is being negatively impacted by frequent power outages and protracted scheduled shutdowns, which are making residents more and more irate. For students getting ready for exams, the situation has grown very difficult. It was announced that there would be a four-hour shutdown starting at 6 am. But according to reports, the power supply didn't start up again until 11:20 am, which caused the outage to last longer than anticipated in a few places. Such prolonged disruptions, frequently without clear information, have become routine, according to several residents. The most severely impacted are students taking current and…

23 Feb

Adani Group to set up aircraft MRO facility in Guwahati

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Adani Group is establishing a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility and an aviation training centre in Guwahati, promising substantial investments in Assam that total approximately Rs. 1 lakh crore, as announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. This initiative aims to create an aero hub similar to Delhi’s Aerocity near Guwahati airport. The MRO facility will cater to both narrow-body and wide-body commercial aircraft, enhancing regional connectivity, generating skilled jobs, and fortifying Assam’s aviation ecosystem. Sarma highlighted the urgent need for industrialisation to generate employment opportunities and attract Assam's youth back from other states. Furthermore, with the recent inauguration…

23 Feb

Encouraging findings: endangered fishing cats found thriving in Kaziranga

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) has unveiled the first scientific assessment of the Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), confirming the globally vulnerable species, protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, thriving across its wetlands. KNPTR officials said that a study conducted by the Tiger Cell of Kaziranga in collaboration with Tiasa Adhya, scientist associated with the Fishing Cat Project, assessed the camera-trap images available from past All India Tiger Estimation data with two main objectives – determining if Fishing Cats are rare or common in Kaziranga, and estimating minimum individuals present. Altogether 57 unique individuals across…

23 Feb

Bengal Political Icon Mukul Roy Dies at 71

anuprova EditorPolitical

Mukul Roy, the veteran politician and co-founder of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), passed away at the age of 71 in the early hours of Monday, February 23, 2026. Often hailed as the "Chanakya of Bengal politics," Roy breathed his last at approximately 1:30 a.m. at a private hospital in Kolkata following a massive cardiac arrest. His son, Subhranshu Roy, confirmed that the former Union Railway Minister had been battling prolonged health issues, including Parkinson’s disease and dementia, and had been in a coma for several days prior to his demise. A towering figure in West Bengal’s political landscape for over…

23 Feb

TVS iQube rolls into Vatican as TVS Motor, Exelentia deepen green mobility push

Business BureauBusiness

TVS Motor Company has delivered two TVS iQube electric scooters to the Governorate of Vatican City State, marking a fresh step in its global sustainable mobility push. The official handover took place on February 5 as part of an ongoing collaboration between the Vatican and Exelentia, a specialist in last-mile mobility solutions. The initiative, driven by Exelentia in partnership with TVS Motor Italia, supports the Vatican’s ecological transition towards zero-emission mobility. The electric scooters are aimed at meeting daily operational needs within the historic and sensitive environment of Vatican City, where efficiency, reliability and environmental respect are key priorities. Giovanni…

22 Feb

Pre-Retirement Counselling Workshop to Be Inaugurated by Union Minister Jitendra Singh in Guwahati on Feb 23

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

In alignment with the Prime Minister's vision to improve the “Ease of Living” for pensioners and family pensioners, the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) of the Government of India has launched several innovative initiatives aimed at enhancing pension policies and digitizing pension-related transactions. A significant aspect of this initiative will be the inauguration of the 58th Pre-Retirement Counselling Workshop (PRC) by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, scheduled for February 23 at the Administrative Staff College in Guwahati. The PRC workshops serve as a valuable resource for retiring government employees, contributing directly…

22 Feb

Dimapur Railway Station Receives “Eat Right Station” Certification from FSSAI

Sonakshi SarkarNorth East

In a significant advancement for food safety, Dimapur Railway Station, part of the Lumding Division of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), has received the prestigious “Eat Right Station” certification from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). This certification, valid from October 24, 2025, to October 23, 2027, was awarded following a thorough audit of food stalls, catering units, and food handlers to ensure adherence to rigorous food safety standards, hygienic food preparation, safe storage practices, and proper waste management, while also providing nutritious food options for travelers. Additionally, four other stations in the Alipurduar Division have also…

22 Feb

CM Responds to Congress Criticism on Zubeen Garg Issue

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Chief Minister has vehemently responded to criticisms from the Congress party regarding the Zubeen Garg case, emphasizing the inappropriateness of politicizing such matters during elections. He highlighted the lack of genuine concern from Congress, questioning why Priyanka Gandhi did not donate blood on Zubeen's birthday or visit the families of 860 martyrs, stating that Congress has exploited the situation for political gain. He declared that leaders from his party would only visit Zubeen's site after the elections to avoid any perceptions of politicization. The Chief Minister asserted his intention not to visit Zubeen's location while elections are ongoing, indicating…