Assam - The Purbottar

13 Jun

Famous dancer Sonal Mansingh honoured by Assam Government

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Renowned classical dancer and cultural icon Dr. Sonal Mansingh has been conferred with the Srimanta Sankardeva Award 2023 by the Government of Assam in recognition of her lifelong dedication to Indian classical dance, cultural preservation, and social advocacy. The award was presented to her by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at a formal ceremony held in Guwahati. The Srimanta Sankardeva Award, named after the 15th-century saint, reformer, and cultural pioneer Srimanta Sankardeva, is one of Assam's most prestigious honours. It was instituted in 1986 to honour individuals who have made significant contributions to the fields of art, culture, and social…

09 Jun

Assam reels under floods, over 24,000 in relief camps

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The flood situation in Assam has turned increasingly grim, with three more lives claimed in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of flood-related deaths this year to 20. The latest bulletin from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) paints a distressing picture as tens of thousands grapple with displacement, loss of livelihoods, and destruction of property.Despite the fact that no rivers are currently flowing above the danger level, the widespread impact of the deluge continues to disrupt normal life across several districts. As per official data, the floods have ravaged 11 districts including Hailakandi, Sribhumi, Morigaon, Kamrup,…

07 Jun

Bhutan delegation in Assam, Meghalaya on 6-day visit

Mohini BarmanAssam

A nine-member delegation from Bhutan's Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) arrived on Saturday at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport here on a six-day visit to Assam and Meghalaya, an official said. The delegation was scheduled to visit Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) and the Hayagriva Madhava Mandir at Hajo in Kamrup district on Saturday. The delegation will visit the Assam State Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the Umananda or the Peacock Island, the Guwahati Tea Auction centre and the Royal Bhutan Consul General's Office here on Sunday.

07 Jun

CM of Assam directs ground reaction in Barak Valley & issues urgent flood relief order

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

In a determined response to the worsening flood situation in Barak Valley, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma undertook an extensive visit to the flood-affected districts of Hailakandi and Sribhumi on Thursday, directing district officials to ensure immediate relief supplies and emergency measures for affected communities. Reviewing the on-ground conditions firsthand, Sarma instructed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of Cachar and Hailakandi districts to prioritize the swift distribution of essential supplies such as food, drinking water, and medicine. Special emphasis was laid on addressing the needs of vulnerable groups including the elderly, children, and lactating mothers who are bearing the brunt…

07 Jun

The flood situation in Assam is dire even though river levels are dropping

Banasree SarkarAssam

More than 4.43 lakh people from 16 Assamese districts were still impacted by the floods, despite the fact that major rivers, such as the Brahmaputra, were moving downward. No fatalities from the flooding throughout the day were reported, however one person was reported missing in Kamrup (Metro). The current first wave of floods and landslides caused by torrential rains has killed 21 persons in the state thus far. 1,296 villages across the 54 revenue circles in 16 districts have been impacted by the floods, and 2,96,765 animals are currently being impacted by the current wave, while 16,558.59 hectares of crops…

06 Jun

Lovlina launches boxing academy in Guwahati; Assam CM pledges Rs 2 crore support

Mohini BarmanAssam

Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain has unveiled her boxing academy in Barchandra in north Guwahati and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a grant of Rs 2 crore for its development. Set up on land purchased by Borgohain in 2021, the Lovlina Borgohain Boxing Academy, inaugurated on Wednesday, aims to provide grassroots boxers with professional infrastructure, including a 26x26 boxing ring and a fully equipped gym. The centre is Guwahati’s first of its kind and will cater to youth from across Assam and the northeast.

05 Jun

CM’s flood link warning is echoed by the SC alert on USTM

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Supreme Court’s recent notice on the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) has validated his earlier assertions linking the institution to Guwahati’s chronic urban flooding. Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Sarma struck a vindicated tone, stating, “When I talked about USTM, many people laughed at me and said I was bluffing because flood water cannot be stopped. But today, the Supreme Court has issued a notice in this matter. That itself proves that there is substance in what I said.” The Chief Minister’s remarks came in light of the apex court's…

05 Jun

Floods submerge 60 pc of Assam’s Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, threatening one-horned rhino habitat

Mohini BarmanAssam

Around 60 per cent of Assam's Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, home to the highest density of one-horned rhinoceroses in the country, has been submerged due to flooding caused by rising waters from the Brahmaputra River, threatening the habitat of the endangered animal species. According to sanctuary authorities, 10 out of 17 anti- poaching camps inside the 16 sq km protected area have been inundated, severely affecting forest operations and forcing wildlife, including the iconic species, to move to higher ground. "After June 1, we have received a significant influx of water from the Brahmaputra through channels linked to the sanctuary," said…

03 Jun

Eviction drive carried out along Assam-Meghalaya border for widening of NH-217

Mohini BarmanAssam

The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) carried out an eviction drive at Dinadubi near Dudhnai, along the Assam-Meghalaya border, to facilitate the widening of National Highway 217. The drive, conducted under the directives of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, targeted encroachments on the Assam side of the Dinadubi Bazar area. The operation involved the demolition of several commercial establishments and shops to clear the way for highway expansion. It was conducted in a peaceful manner, with the presence of officials from the local administration, NHIDCL, and police personnel from Dudhnai, Damra, and neighboring areas of…

03 Jun

Water as a weapon? Assam CM dismisses Pakistan’s China-Brahmaputra fear

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Amid rising geopolitical friction and renewed debate over regional water politics, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has strongly countered a recent narrative suggesting that China could block the Brahmaputra River’s flow into India. His detailed rebuttal, titled “What If China Stops Brahmaputra Water to India? A Response to Pakistan’s New Scare Narrative,” lays out a clear, fact-based dismissal of what he calls “fear-mongering” tactics from Pakistan. Sarma’s statement follows Pakistan’s anxious response to India stepping away from the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty—a decades-old water-sharing arrangement that many in India now view as outdated and unfavorable. As speculation grew over…