Assam - The Purbottar

17 May

Athena Opens Northeast India’s Largest Integrated Psychiatric Hospital in Guwahati

riya EditorAssam

Athena Behavioral Health has announced the launch of Northeast India’s largest integrated private psychiatric hospital in Guwahati, marking the organization’s expansion to five hospitals across the country. The launch comes at a critical time, with nearly eight percent of Assam’s population, roughly one in 12 people, experiencing mental health morbidity, according to the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS). Regional studies have also highlighted rising levels of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and suicide-related distress, alongside a severe shortage of structured psychiatric and de-addiction infrastructure across the Northeast. Founded in 2021 with a single hospital in Gurgaon, Athena Behavioral Health has…

17 May

Assam Sees Sharp Decline in Crime, Higher Charge-Sheet Rate: DGP

riya EditorAssam

Assam DGP Harmeet Singh on Saturday chaired a virtual crime review for March and April 2026, joined by all officers-in charge (OCs), superintendents of police (SPs) and range officers. During the review, a significant decline in crime indicators was noted across the state as the police force continued its sustained crackdown on crime, while strengthening investigative efficiency across the State. According to official figures shared after the meeting, the crime rate per lakh population has declined to 100.2 from 121.5 in 2025 and 349.5 in 2021. Case pendency has reduced to 10,902 from 11,140 in 2025 and 1,33,982 in 2021…

17 May

AI-Driven Governance Gets Boost as Assam Reviews Department-Wise Implementation Strategy

riya EditorAssam

Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota on Saturday chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee on AI Adoption and Implementation, constituted to deliberate on the strategic roadmap for adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across government departments for improved governance, public service delivery and administrative efficiency. During the meeting, the Chief Secretary reviewed the progress made till date, including the AI inventory exercise which has identified 343 project ideas across 50-plus departments, organized into 11 thematic clusters. He emphasized the need to move from inventory to implementation through a prioritized approach, adopting a “build once, use by all” model with common AI…

16 May

Chief Minister Launches India’s First Digital AI-Driven Bank Branch in Guwahati

Paromita EditorAssam

Taking a major leap in the digital and AI ecosystem, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today inaugurated India’s first AI-powered “phygital” banking branch of Slice Small Finance Bank at GS Road in Guwahati.It may be noted that this next-generation banking space blends physical and digital services seamlessly through AI-enabled self-service kiosks, paperless cash deposits and withdrawals, and streamlined digital onboarding. The branch is designed to make banking more accessible, and inclusive for customers across segments, combining physical trust with digital convenience. Through an expanding physical presence and robust digital infrastructure, the bank will reportedly extend access to responsible credit, savings,…

16 May

Himanta Says July Budget Will Reflect Poll Promises

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said the first full-fledged annual Budget of the new state government, expected to be presented in July, will lay out the administration’s development plans and policy priorities for the next five years.Speaking to reporters after offering prayers at Batadrava Than in Nagaon district, the Chief Minister said the Budget session of the Assam Assembly is likely to begin on July 5 or 6.Sarma said the annual Budget could not be presented earlier in February or March because the state was preparing for the Assembly elections.“The upcoming Budget will reflect our government’s plans and…

16 May

Heavy Rain Triggers Flooding in Parts of Assam

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

More than 23,000 people have been affected by urban flooding in different parts of Assam following heavy rainfall over the past few days, while the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of more rain and thunderstorms across several districts in the state.Officials said urban flooding has been reported in Kamrup (Metropolitan), Cachar and Sribhumi districts, disrupting normal life in many low-lying areas. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), four revenue circles and 12 villages have been inundated due to continuous rainfall. A total of 23,619 people have been affected by the flooding across the three districts.Cachar district…

16 May

Road Accident Leaves Nagaon Murder Case Accused Hurt

riya EditorAssam

The prime accused in the Nagaon robbery and murder case, Rajibur Rahman, was severely injured after the police van carrying him met with a road accident late last night. Both his legs appeared to be badly injured. He is currently undergoing treatment in hospital. Rajibur and four others robbed the house of Dr Ranjit Saikia and Ruprekha Bhuyan. They brutally assaulted the couple, which resulted in Ruprekha death in hospital after remaining in coma for 16 days. “She left behind her young son, who cries in her memory every day,” her husband said, expressing satisfaction over the incident and his…

15 May

Pensioners’ Team Submits Memorandum to Assam MP Over Central Health Scheme

Paromita EditorAssam

A nine-member delegation of the All-India Services Pensioners Cell, Assam-Meghalaya Cadre, Assam unit, met MP, Darrang-Udalguri parliamentary constituency and Assam BJP president, Dilip Saikia, and submitted a memorandum on pressing issues concerning the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) in Guwahati.The delegation was led by Paramesh Dutta, president, All India Services Pensioners Cell, Assam-Meghalaya Cadre, Assam Unit, Guwahati and Devajyoti Hazarika, secretary.The memorandum highlighted demands for upgrade of Guwahati from Tier-II to Tier-I under CGHS as a special case, strengthening of Wellness Centre infrastructure, creation of specialist posts, immediate filling of vacancies, and coverage of AIIMS, Guwahati under CGHS.MP Saikia assured…

15 May

India’s First Satellite-Tagged Ganges Softshell Turtle Released in Kaziranga

Paromita EditorAssam

In a first for India, the country’s first satellite-tagged Ganges softshell turtle was released in the Kaziranga NationalPark.The release coincided with Endangered Species Day.Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called it a major step for wildlife conservation."Marking #EndangeredSpeciesDay, the country’s 1st satellite-tagged Ganges softshell turtle was released in @kaziranga_, a major step for wildlife conservation. A proud moment for Assam as we continue to protect every species that calls our forests home," Sarma posted on X.The Ganges softshell turtle is a freshwater reptile whose distribution is largely restricted to the Ganga, Indus and Mahanadi river systems in northern and eastern…

15 May

Union Minister Shares Video of Hoolock Gibbon Using Canopy Bridge Across Railway Track

Paromita EditorAssam

Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav today shared a video on X of a hoolock gibbon using canopy bridge to cross a railway track in Assam, and described it as a watershed moment in gibbon conservation in the country.He captioned the post as "Innovation-led conservation!", and wrote, "Good to see that mitigation measure such as this canopy bridge made over a railway passing through Assam has started being used by hoolock gibbon.This shows science-led small-scale efforts can also be of great help in biodiversity conservation."The railway line shown in the video traverses the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary…