Assam - The Purbottar

02 Jan

Peerless Hospital Calls for Preventive Healthcare and Safe Roads

SonaliAssam

Marking the beginning of the New Year, doctors at Peerless Hospital Guwahati have appealed to the public to adopt practical health resolutions aimed at reducing medical emergencies and improving long-term well-being. Emphasising preventive healthcare, specialists advised people to prioritise annual health check-ups for the early detection of lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart ailments. Regular monitoring of key health indicators, they said, can help prevent serious complications at later stages. The hospital also highlighted the growing importance of mental health awareness. Doctors encouraged individuals to pay attention to emotional well-being, manage stress effectively and seek professional help when…

02 Jan

From Backlogs to Convictions: 2025 Marks Major Policing Gains in Guwahati

SonaliAssam

The year 2025 emerged as a milestone for the Guwahati Police Commissionerate, with official figures showing a sharp improvement in law and order across the city, driven by targeted crime prevention, faster investigations and more effective prosecution. According to police data, Guwahati registered 5,786 cases in 2025, marking a steady decline from 7,412 cases in 2024 and 9,393 cases in 2023. Officials credited the reduction to intensified patrolling, quicker response times and stronger coordination at the operational level. A key highlight of the year was the significant reduction in pending cases. From 35,396 pending cases in 2021, the backlog was…

02 Jan

Two arrested with opium

SonaliAssam

Police arrested two persons and recovered 2.7 kg of opium from them Karbi Anglong district of Assam on Friday.Both the accused hail from Punjab.The recovery was made from a truck at a checkpost in Khatkhati in Bokajan sub-division. The contraband substance was found in two packets, a police source said, adding that the truck was coming from Dimapur in Nagaland.A case has been registered in this connection and further investigation is underway, the source said.

02 Jan

For Udasin Bhakats, Assam launches monthly aid scheme

Banasree SarkarAssam

Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam, introduced a financial aid program for Udasin Bhakats, giving celibate Vaishnavite monks affiliated with Satras around the state Rs 1,500 each month. The plan has now been formally put into action after being included in the state budget last year. Speaking about the launch program here, Sarma promised that any beneficiaries who could have been overlooked will be included and that the help would be directly credited to the bank accounts of qualified Udasin Bhakats. A total of 620 Udasin Bhakats will gain from the program. With 474 monks, Majuli has the…

02 Jan

Assam Begins Land Acquisition for Umiam–Silchar Corridor Project

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Land acquisition for the Umiam (Barapani)-Silchar high-speed corridor project in Assam is underway, with Chief Secretary Ravi Kota announcing that 85% of the needed land is in Meghalaya, and its acquisition will be handled by the Meghalaya government. The remaining 15% in Assam is already being acquired. The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has completed project planning, and environmental clearance is anticipated within four to five weeks. Tenders for the construction are expected to be issued by February 28, with completion projected within 48 months. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted that the express highway will…

02 Jan

India’s First Vande Bharat Sleeper to Connect Kamakhya–Howrah, Promising Faster Overnight Travel

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train service soon, connecting Kamakhya in Guwahati with Howrah in West Bengal. The launch is likely to take place in the second week of January, marking another important step in the modernisation of Indian Railways. According to official documents, the new service will operate under the Northeast Frontier Railway and will run as a fully air-conditioned overnight premium train. The Vande Bharat Sleeper will cover a distance of 966 kilometres between Kamakhya and Howrah in about 14 hours and 30 minutes. As per the tentative schedule, the…

02 Jan

Centre Appoints New Pro-VC at Tezpur University, Orders High-Level Enquiry into Governance Crisis

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Ministry of Education has appointed Professor Amrendra Kumar Das of IIT Guwahati as the new Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Tezpur University, even as it constituted a high-level committee to probe the ongoing crisis and allegations concerning the institution’s functioning. An official communication issued by the Department of Higher Education confirmed that Prof. Das, currently serving in the Department of Design at IIT Guwahati, has taken charge as Pro-Vice-Chancellor with immediate effect. His service terms will be governed by the Tezpur University Act, Statutes, and Ordinances, and the appointment has been approved by the competent authority. Simultaneously, the Ministry issued an Office…

31 Dec

ASSAM POLICE ADVISES ON ROAD SAFETY DURING PICNIC SEASON

SonaliAssam

Assam Police has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to ensure road safety and prevent accidents during the ongoing picnic season. In an advisory issued to enforcement agencies and the general public, the state police force urged citizens to prioritise road safety to ensure a safe and enjoyable picnic season, stressing that strict compliance with safety norms is essential to prevent loss of human life. Accordingly, enforcement agencies have been directed to take strict action against over-speeding by picnic-bound vehicles through speed monitoring and penal measures. A zero-tolerance policy against drunk driving will be enforced through regular breath-analyser tests, with strict…

31 Dec

Couple Burnt Alive By Villagers In Karbi Anglong On Witchcraft Suspicion

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

In a shocking incident, a couple in a village in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district was reportedly attacked by a group of assailants with weapons and burnt alive in their house after suspecting them to be involved in witchcraft, police said. According to media reports, the assailants first attacked the couple with sharp weapons inside their house and thereafter burnt their house at Number one Beloguri Munda village in Howraghat area on Tuesday night.The couple were reportedly inside the house when it was gutted. The victims were accused by villagers of practicing witchcraft and allegedly bringing misfortune to the surrounding area.The…

31 Dec

Guwahati Schools to Remain Shut Till January 6 Amid Severe Cold Conditions

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Guwahati is currently experiencing a spell of very cold weather, and because of this, all government and provincialised schools in the Kamrup (Metropolitan) district will remain closed for one week starting from December 31, 2025. The decision has been taken by the district education authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of school students during the severe cold conditions being reported across the city. Officials said the order was issued on December 30 after the district administration reviewed the weather situation. The advisory came from the Office of the District Elementary Education Officer-cum-District Mission Coordinator under Samagra Shiksha, Kamrup (Metro).…