Assam - The Purbottar

07 Jan

Assam is getting ready for the anticipated Bihu

Banasree SarkarAssambihu

Villagers in Batiapara, in the Bongaigaon district, are doing everything they can to celebrate the holiday in the most traditional manner as Assam prepares for the much anticipated Bihu festival. Construction is almost finished on the community's customary "bhelaghor" (temporary hut) in anticipation of the Uruka night, when families assemble for the lavish feast. The Assamese New Year begins with the agricultural celebration of Bihu, which has strong ties to the farming community. For the people of Batiapara, the celebration of this event is about more than just food and revelry; it's about respecting rural customs and coming together as…

07 Jan

Assam: Indian Army’s Engineer Task Force joins miner rescue efforts in Umrangso

editorAssam

The Indian Army's Engineer Task Force, along with specialized equipment, divers, and medical teams, has joined the ongoing rescue operation in Umrangso, Assam, following a tragic coal mine flooding incident. The Defence PRO from Guwahati confirmed the deployment of these crucial teams, tweeting, "Engineers Task Force with equipment, divers and medical teams from the Indian Army and Assam Rifles have joined rescue efforts in Umrangso, Assam. All efforts are underway in close coordination with the civil administration." Earlier, at 6:30 AM the first response team from the 32 Assam Rifles Pathfinder Unit reached the site of the incident. Their primary…

07 Jan

15 trapped in Assam coal mine flood, rescue ongoing

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

15 workers remain trapped in a coal mine in the 3 Kilo area of Umrangso, Dima Hasao district, after sudden flooding engulfed the site on Monday. The Assam Coal Quarry, the epicenter of the disaster, is now the focus of an intense rescue operation as authorities race against time to save lives. The flooding, which occurred without warning, has been attributed to a possible breach of an underground water source. Eyewitness accounts reveal a scene of panic as water surged into the mine, cutting off escape routes and leaving workers stranded deep below the surface. Mayank Kumar Jha, Superintendent of…

06 Jan

Assam: First phase of ‘Gunotsav 2025’ begins today

editorAssam

The first phase of 'Gunotsav 2025', an exercise to evaluate the performance of nearly 14.11 lakh students of Assam, is being carried out by the state government from January 6 to 9. The theme of 'Gunotsav 2025, is "Ensuring Quality Education". In the first phase, 11 districts of the state 16,056 schools and 14,11,874 students will be evaluated with the support of 6,365 external evaluators. The first phase of Gunotsav 2025 will continue till January 9.

06 Jan

Lakshman Acharya applauds Assam’s growth push during Tinsukia visit

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Governor Lakshman Acharya lauded the state’s ongoing developmental initiatives during his recent visit to Tinsukia. The Governor’s itinerary included a high-level review meeting and interactions with key stakeholders to evaluate the district’s progress on various government programs. The review meeting, held at the conference hall of the Tinsukia Deputy Commissioner's office, focused on assessing the implementation of state and central schemes in the district. Governor Acharya urged officials to address existing challenges and expedite developmental projects to benefit the local populace. During a press briefing following the meeting, Governor Acharya commended the Assam government’s commitment to fostering growth and…

04 Jan

Helpline number launched in Guwahati for citizens

editorAssam

In a bid to enhance public safety, Guwahati Police has launched a dedicated WhatsApp helpline number for residents. Announcing the initiative, Police Commissioner Parthasarathi Mahanta shared that the helpline- 6026900651-will be operational round the clock, providing citizens with a quick and efficient way to report issues or seek help. "This helpline is part of our continued effort to make policing more accessible and responsive to the needs of the people," said Mahanta during a media briefing.

04 Jan

Assam Police seize Codeine-based cough syrup worth Rs 2 crore in Cachar

editorAssam

Assam Police seized 11,100 bottles of Codeine-based cough syrup worth Rs two crore from a vehicle near Damcherra in the Cachar district of the state on Friday. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in a post on X that Cachar Police conducted the anti-narcotics operation based on credible intelligence. "Based on credible intelligence, an anti-narcotics operation was conducted by @Cachar Police near Damcherra where a vehicle transporting illegal substances was intercepted. Upon thoro search, 11,100 bottles of Codeine-based cough syrup valued at Rs 2 crore were recovered. Commendable efforts by @assampolice," Sarma wrote on X.

04 Jan

Fog disrupts air traffic at Guwahati airport, leading to major flight delays

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Flight operations at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA) in Guwahati were severely impacted on January 3 due to dense fog, resulting in 14 flight cancellations and delays for over 30 others. The airport faced reduced visibility throughout the day, causing significant inconvenience to passengers. Airport officials confirmed that operations were disrupted, and efforts were made to assist affected travelers."The total operation was disrupted. Due to this, 14 flights were cancelled, and more than 30 were delayed," airport authorities said in a statement. To address the situation, additional airport personnel were deployed to assist passengers. Provisions such as extra seating…

03 Jan

Special casual leave for Assam state employees attending Sahitya Sabha in 2025

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

In a move to support cultural engagement, the Assam government has announced special casual leave for state employees participating as delegates in the Assam Sahitya Sabha's upcoming session. The event is scheduled to take place in Patshala, Bajali district, from January 31 to February 4, 2025. A notification issued by the General Administration Department on January 2 confirmed the decision. The leave will be granted to ensure delegates can attend the prestigious literary gathering while ensuring the continuity of their official duties. However, the notification specified that employees engaged in critical responsibilities, such as Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections and…

02 Jan

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma calls for action against industrial units promoting illegal migration

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed the pressing issue of infiltration during a New Year’s press briefing, asserting that no Hindu Bangladeshi migrants had been detected entering the state in the last five months. This revelation comes amidst growing concerns over the surge in illegal immigration across Assam and other Northeastern states. Highlighting the gravity of the situation, CM Sarma disclosed that Assam Police apprehends 20-30 infiltrators daily, with similar trends reported in neighboring Tripura. However, he credited the Hindu community in Bangladesh for demonstrating maturity and refraining from crossing the border. “Those who wished to migrate likely did…