Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain visited flood-affected areas in Golaghat, Assam, expressing deep concern over the severe destruction and urging authorities to prioritise providing housing for the displaced families.
Assam's flood death toll has risen to 80, with two new fatalities reported from Sivasagar district, as eight districts and over 2.12 lakh people remain affected. The state government has announced a six-month moratorium on loan repayments for flood-affected individuals and is seeking a special support package from the Centre.
Assam faces a severe flood crisis with 41 deaths and over 6.5 lakh people displaced, prompting intensified rescue operations and a critical alert for continued heavy rainfall.
Floods in Assam have claimed 31 lives, with 21 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours, affecting nearly 5.65 lakh people across multiple districts. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited affected areas, announcing an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh for each deceased's family and acknowledging difficulties in relief distribution to submerged villages.
Assam's flood death toll has climbed to 75 with seven new fatalities, even as the number of affected people decreased. The state government has increased the ex gratia payment to Rs 9 lakh per deceased family and relaxed norms for claiming compensation, including waiving mandatory post-mortem reports.
Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain has expressed deep concern over the devastating floods in her home state of Assam, stating it has affected her focus at the Commonwealth Games. She appealed to the public for help, highlighting the loss of lives and homes, and the urgent need for food, water, and clothing for the affected population.
Assam's flood toll has climbed to 87 with two new fatalities, even as water levels recede in most inundated areas, affecting nearly 1.3 lakh people. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for extremely heavy rainfall in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, which could impact several bordering Assam districts.
The flood situation in Assam is showing signs of improvement with receding water levels, though over 6.5 lakh people across six districts remain affected and the death toll has risen to 66. Relief operations are being intensified, with central and state leaders reviewing measures and a central team assessing damages.
Septuagenarian couple Mukul and Bonti Bezbora, along with many others in Assam's Sivasagar district, survived the devastating floods but lost all their belongings, now facing an uncertain future amidst widespread destruction and the daunting task of rebuilding.
Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora of the AGP has won the Bokakhat assembly constituency for a third consecutive term, defeating Raijor Dal's Hari Prasad Saikia by a significant margin.
The appearance of the signboard has reignited long-standing concerns over alleged encroachment in the Assam-Nagaland border belt.
In the Opposition camp, the Congress, which contested 99 seats, won 19 constituencies, while the Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF and Akhil Gogoi-led Raijor Dal secured two seats each, and the Trinamool Congress bagged one constituency.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of corruption and land grabbing, promising action if the Congress party wins the upcoming elections in Assam. Gandhi also criticised the BJP's governance and economic policies.
Police in Assam have detained seven people in connection with election-related violence in Tamulpur and Sivasagar. Minor clashes also erupted at several polling booths, resulting in minor injuries. Authorities are investigating the incidents and monitoring the situation to ensure uninterrupted polling.
The BJP has announced its initial list of 88 candidates for the Assam Assembly elections, featuring key contests and strategic reassignments, including Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's bid to retain his Jalukbari seat.
In its list of 26 candidates for Thursday's assembly elections, 13 are from the Bengali-speaking Muslim community -- a demographic that was at the centre of the original Assam agitation.
The ruling comes against the backdrop of an intensified anti-encroachment campaign launched by the Assam government since May 2021.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday launched a financial assistance scheme for 'Udasin Bhakats', providing monthly support of 1,500 to celibate Vaishnavite monks associated with Satras across the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with students on a cruise ship on the Brahmaputra River during a 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' programme on the second day of his Assam visit.
The CM recently said that only'miyas' were being 'harassed' during the ongoing Special Revision (SR) of electoral rolls in the state, as they cannot be allowed to vote in Assam, and claimed that no Assamese -- Hindus or Muslims -- were facing any problem in the exercise. Opposition parties criticised him for this comment.
Garima Saikia Garg, wife of singer Zubeen Garg, addresses the financial irregularities involving the singer's personal security officers (PSOs) and calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has issued an official statement addressing ongoing speculation surrounding the death of Indian singer and composer Zubeen Garg, stating that preliminary investigations do not indicate foul play. The statement comes amid rising public concern and misinformation spreading online regarding the circumstances of the singer's death last month.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar to launch infrastructure projects, participate in Bhupen Hazarika's birth centenary, and attend the Combined Commanders' Conference.
The proscribed ULFA(I) claimed drone and missile attacks on its camps along the Myanmar border by the Indian Army, resulting in casualties. The Indian Army has not confirmed the incident. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma denied state police involvement.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress party of supporting terrorists groomed by Pakistan and protecting infiltrators during a rally in Assam. He also highlighted development projects undertaken by the BJP government in the state.
Eight persons have been killed in floods and landslides in Assam as incessant rainfall caused massive inundation in 17 districts, affecting over 78,000 people, officials said on Saturday.
At least 2 persons were killed and over 15 injured including several policemen when police opened fire on a mob of protestors on Wednesday afternoon.
He said his government will share details of these people with local authorities from where they claim to have come, so that it can be verified that they are not actually from "across the border".
In the last 11 years, India and the world witnessed what he stood for, what he promised and did not deliver, and what he actually stood for and practised without fearing how history would judge him. Modi's tenure has been punctuated with headline-grabbing decisions, symbolic gestures, and stage-managed moments that continue to define his leadership and India's politics, points out Ramesh Menon.
Recalling his detention during Hiteshwar Saikia's tenure as Assam Chief Minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that during the Congress government in Assam, he was beaten up and had jail food for seven days in the state.
Assam's flood situation remained critical on Tuesday with over 6.71 lakh people affected in 20 districts in the second wave of flooding this year, as the Indian Air Force (IAF) rescued 13 stranded fishermen from the severely-hit Dibrugarh district, an official said.
Assam Congress spokesperson Reetam Singh was arrested on Saturday for a social media post questioning the status of cases registered against three senior BJP leaders, including a former state chief and two serving MLAs. The arrest came after a complaint by the wife of BJP MLA Manab Deka, who was mentioned in Singh's post. Singh's arrest was met with criticism from the Congress, with Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi alleging that Singh was "brutally dragged away" by police.
The accident took place at Balijan near Dergaon this morning when the bus with 45 people on board collided with the goods vehicle, Golaghat Superintendent of Police Rajen Singh told PTI.
The flood situation in Assam remained grim on Thursday even though flood waters started have receding in many parts of the state, officials said.
Dhubri is the worst-hit district, followed by Cachar and Darrang.
A senior police officer said bomb disposal squads have been rushed to all the places mentioned by ULFA-I but there is no report of recovery of any bomb or explosive.
On being asked what Varun Gandhi would do now, she replied, "Ask him what he wants to do. We will consider this after the elections. There is time."
Five major rivers, including the Brahmaputra at two places, were flowing over the danger level, it said.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a 'Red Alert' and predicted 'very heavy' to 'extremely heavy' rainfall across several districts of Assam over the next five days.
