Assam - The Purbottar

06 Jan

Crude Oil Leak Triggers Panic in Dibrugarh Village; Residents Blame Ageing OIL Pipeline

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

A crude oil pipeline of Oil India Limited (OIL) reportedly burst late on Monday night in the Salmari–Digholia area under Tingkhong in Assam’s Dibrugarh district, causing panic among residents and damage to nearby farmland and fish-rearing ponds. Local people said the incident took place at around 10 pm when a sudden bursting sound was heard from the pipeline. Soon after, crude oil started leaking continuously from the damaged section. The smell of crude oil spread quickly across the area, and many residents said they were worried about the possibility of a fire.Villagers said that within a short time the leaking…

06 Jan

Voter Roll Row in Assam: Congress Alleges Irregularities Ahead of 2026 Polls, CM Sarma Rejects Claims

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

A fresh political debate has started in Assam after Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar alleging serious problems in the draft electoral rolls published after a Special Revision ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Saikia has asked the Election Commission to stop the finalisation of the voter list until all the reported issues are checked and solved. In his letter, Saikia said that there were “unknown” and unauthorised names appearing in the rolls. He said these concerns were based on news reports as well as feedback…

06 Jan

Crude Oil Leak After Pipeline Burst Causes Panic Among Assam Residents

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

A crude oil pipeline owned by Oil India Limited (OIL) ruptured on Monday night in Shalmari Dighalia, Dibrugarh district, Upper Assam. The incident, which took place around 10 pm, resulted in a loud explosion and continuous leakage of crude oil, alarming local residents who feared a potential fire. The oil spread to agricultural fields and fish ponds, leading to reports of fish deaths due to contamination. OIL officials quickly arrived on the scene to manage the leakage, but residents reported breathing difficulties due to the strong odor, which reached a radius of nearly one kilometer. There are concerns that exposure…

06 Jan

Assam CM Says 13 Foreign Nationals Pushed Back Across Border

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

As many as 13 foreign nationals attempting to illegally enter India were apprehended in Assam and subsequently pushed back across the border, as confirmed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. While he did not disclose details about the origin or ethnicity of the individuals, he emphasized the state government's commitment to addressing illegal immigration, stating that the rights of illegal immigrants are acknowledged—including their right to return to their homeland. Assam shares a 267.5-kilometre-long border with Bangladesh, intersecting several districts including Sribhumi, Cachar, Dhubri, and South Salmara–Mankachar, with a key official entry and exit point at the Integrated Check…

06 Jan

Congress Flags Irregularities in Assam Draft Electoral Roll

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Leader of Opposition in the Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia has alleged "serious irregularities", including "unknown" voter entries in the draft electoral rolls, published after a Special Revision (SR) of the voter lists in the state.In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Saikia demanded the halt of the finalisation of the electoral rolls until "all irregularities are thoroughly verified and resolved" to ensure the removal of any unauthorised or "unknown" voter entries.Assam has registered a 1.35 per cent increase in the number of voters as per the integrated draft electoral roll for the state, published on December 30 after…

05 Jan

500 Congress ticket aspirants collect application forms for Assam Assembly polls

SonaliAssam

The process for the 2026 Assembly elections for the Congress party formally commenced today at Rajiv Bhavan in Guwahati with the release of application forms.Nearly 500 aspiring candidates have already collected the forms through the website www.apcc.assam.org.On the first day, five applicants officially submitted their nomination applications at Rajiv Bhavan.Each applicant has also deposited Rs 50,000 via demand draft as a contribution to the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC).Among the applicants, Bipul Gogoi, General Secretary (Organisation) of the APCC, has applied for the Tinkhong constituency. Gunakanta Gogoi has submitted his application for the Digboi constituency. Ranjita Pegu has applied for…

05 Jan

Migratory Bird Census Launched at 200+ Wetlands in Kaziranga

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The seventh census of migratory birds at Kaziranga National Park in Assam has commenced, involving hundreds of enumerators and volunteers, as reported by an official on Monday. This bird count is set to take place across over 200 designated wetlands within the Eastern Assam, Nagaon, and Biswanath wildlife divisions of Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve (KNPTR), marking it as one of the largest such initiatives in India. Forest Minister for Haryana, Rao Narbir Singh, participated in the event's launch and engaged with the census team. The enumeration in the core area is being exclusively conducted by forest frontline staff,…

05 Jan

Sarbananda Sonowal highlights Gayan-Bayan’s power to foster inner peace

Banasree SarkarAssam

Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), attended the second biennial full-fledged state convention of the "Mridangiya Gayan-Bayan Sanstha, Assam," which was held in Rajgarh, Dibrugarh, along with a ceremonial program of Auniati Satra and a daylong Akhanda Bhagavat Path. Speaking to the crowd, Sarbananda Sonowal praised the organization's ongoing support of the mridangiya gayan-bayan tradition's practice, maintenance, and spread, characterizing it as an integral aspect of Assamese culture. A vital component of Assamese culture is the Mridangiya Gayan-Bayan tradition. It has enhanced our cultural environment and encouraged younger generations to stay anchored in our classical…

05 Jan

Amid Rongker Karkli Festivities, Karbi Anglong Land Dispute Moves Toward Key Legal Stage

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Karbi community in Assam's hill districts is celebrating the Rongker Karkli Festival, 2026, amidst significant legal developments concerning land rights in the region. This two-day post-harvest festival, held in Karbi Anglong and surrounding areas, is a major cultural event that involves rituals, traditional dances, ceremonies, and community feasts, emphasizing the community's rich heritage and their prayers for protection, agricultural success, and collective well-being. Concurrently, on January 5, key legal proceedings concerning land rights will take place in the Gauhati High Court. The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) and Assam government are prepared to submit a joint affidavit in response…

05 Jan

Early-Morning Quake Shakes Assam and Neighbouring States; Two Injured in Morigaon

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

A strong earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale shook central Assam in the early hours of Monday, sending people rushing out of their homes in fear across many parts of the Northeast. The tremor was felt at around 4.17 am, when most people were asleep, leading to panic as houses and buildings shook for a few seconds. The National Centre for Seismology said the epicentre of the earthquake was in Morigaon district, located on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra. The quake originated at a depth of 50 kilometres below the earth’s surface. The exact coordinates were recorded at…