Page 9 - Assam

ONGC to permanently cap leaking oil well in Assam's Sivasagar: CM Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will begin permanently capping the crude oil well in Sivasagar district that has been leaking gas for the past nine days. Speaking at a press conference, Sarma said ONGC had already implemented two emergency measures without success. "There are usually four emergency methods that ONGC and Oil India Limited (OIL) apply to check such leakages. ONGC has already implemented Plan A and Plan B without any success," he said. The energy major will now apply Plan C, which will cap the entire well permanently, and for this, US experts will reach Sivasagar by this evening, he said. 'Capping of the well will begin tomorrow and will be carried out in consultation with the US experts. It is expected to be completed within the next four or five days', he added. After exploring multiple approaches with great effort and precision, ONGC is now advancing with a more practical and safer strategy to cap the

Another 'anti-national' held in Assam, total 94 since Pahalgam attack

One more person has been apprehended for allegedly making "pro-Pakistan and communal posts" on social media, taking the total number of such arrests to 94 so far in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in April, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The person was arrested in Nalbari after constant monitoring, he said. "Crackdown on Anti-national elements continue. @KamrupPolice arrested Safiqul Haque, who was using different SIMs to use Facebook to post pro-Pakistan and communal posts," the chief minister wrote on 'X' on Wednesday. Sarma had earlier said the 'state-wide crackdown on traitors would continue and nobody would be spared. The police have launched action against those people who were allegedly indulging in 'anti-India and pro-Pakistan activities'. The chief minister had also said that the National Security Act (NSA) will be clamped on certain people arrested in such cases, but not on all. Opposition AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam was arrested on sedition charges for alle

Suraksha Diagnostics to invest ₹200 cr to set up 20 centres in east India

Suraksha Diagnostics on Wednesday said it will invest Rs 200 crore to set up over 20 advanced imaging centres across eastern India. The plan, which will be executed in collaboration with United Imaging, is aimed at expanding access to advanced diagnostic services in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, enhancing both affordability and healthcare quality in smaller towns and semi-urban regions, it said. No timeline was, however, revealed for the investment rollout. "This collaboration will assist us in expanding our reach and offer high-quality diagnostic services to a large population in eastern India," Suraksha Diagnostics CMD Somnath Chatterjee said. United Imaging will supply cutting-edge imaging solutions, while Suraksha Diagnostics will leverage its existing network and operational expertise to set up the new centres, the company said. Suraksha Diagnostics raised Rs 846.25 crore through an IPO in December for funding its expansion plans. At present, it operates 59 diagnostic centres an

ONGC battles uncontrolled gas leak at Assam well, probe underway

State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) mounted efforts to contain an uncontrollable release of natural gas from a well in Assam, saying a crisis management team is laying out equipment to bring the well under control. "Efforts are underway to control the continuous gush of gas from the RDS#147A near Bhotiapar in the Rudrasagar field, located in the Sivasagar District," the company said in a statement. On June 13, around 11:45 AM, during servicing operations at Well No. RDS-147, gushes of gas were observed from the well. There was, however, no fire or injuries. Upon detection, ONGC immediately activated standard safety protocols. The site was promptly secured, and an emergency response team led by the Asset Manager reached the location without delay. ONGC had previously said it was confident that the situation would be brought back to normal "very soon". A detailed investigation has been initiated to ascertain the root cause of the incident. "Crisis Management Team of

Gas blowout at ONGC well in Assam's Sivasagar, emergency steps underway

A blowout took place on Thursday at a crude well of energy major Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in Assam's Sivasagar district, and it is spewing gas uncontrollably at present, officials said. No injury has been reported so far and the well has not caught fire yet. The incident occurred at the well no. RDS 147 of rig no SKP 135 in Rudrasagar oil field of ONGC. A private firm SK Petro Services was operating the well on behalf of the state-run Maharatna company. According to a senior official, who is present at the site, told PTI that there is no danger currently and the company hopes to bring the well under control soon. "There is an uncontrolled flow of gas. We are trying to control the well. All senior officials are at the site. We are actively mobilising all resources required for controlling the well and we hope to do it as soon as possible. Work is underway," he added. Another official said that there has been no injury at the site, and the well has not caught fire yet.

Assam's new gun licence push could shift India's arms seizure map

Illegal gun seizures are rising steadily in North and East India even as Assam's new arms licence policy could alter demand dynamics near the Bangladesh border

Assam govt to intensify drive to identify illegal foreigners: CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said the state government would enforce a 1950 law to identify and evict illegal foreigners. He claimed that the law empowers the district commissioners to declare individuals as illegal immigrants and initiate eviction proceedings. Speaking during a special day-long Assembly session, he alleged that Congress does not value 'citizenship', as out of four family members of one of its leaders, three are foreigners. It was an apparent jibe at the opposition party's state president Gaurav Gogoi, who was seated at the visitors gallery of the Assembly in front of the treasury bench, whom the chief minister had been targeting for his alleged Pakistan links through his British wife. Sarma, replying to issues of detection and deportation of foreigners, said the state government will implement the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950, for the purpose. It allows the district commissioner to declare illegal foreigners and evict them. S

Assam floods, landslides claim 3 more lives, death toll rises to 26

According to the reports of Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 20 people have died due to floods in the state this year so far, while six others died due to landslides

Assam flood situation improves; ferry services to resume on Brahmaputra

The flood situation in Assam continued to improve with the affected population and area decreasing to around 3.37 lakh in 12 districts respectively, officials said on Sunday. An official bulletin said that the total death toll in this year's floods and landslides is at 23, including six killed in mudslides, till Saturday. Major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, were on a receding trend, though a few of these continued to flow above the danger mark. Following this, ferry services which had been suspended since last week will be partially restored over the Brahmaputra during the day. The Brahmaputra was flowing over the danger level at Dhubri, Kopili at Dharamtul, Barak at BP Ghat and Kushiyara at Sribhumi till Saturday evening. A total of 3,37,358 people in 41 circles and 999 villages in 12 districts remained affected by the deluge, with Sribhumi the worst-hit where over 1.93 lakh people are reeling under floods. In Hailakandi, 73,724 remained affected and in Cachar, 56,398 are s

BJP names Kanad Purkayastha its candidate for Assam Rajya Sabha polls

The BJP on Saturday announced that the party's Assam state secretary Kanad Purkayastha will be its candidate for the Rajya Sabha election from the state. A release said the party's central election committee has approved the candidature of Purkayastha. A party leader from Barak valley, Purkayastha is the son of veteran BJP leader and former Union minister Kabindra Purkayastha. Elections for two Rajya Sabha seats in Assam are scheduled on June 19, with counting of votes to take place the same day. The BJP had earlier announced that it will field a candidate for one of the seats, leaving the other for its ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). The two seats that are being vacated were held by BJP and AGP.

Assam flood situation sees slight improvement as rivers begin to recede

The flood situation in Assam improved marginally as major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, were showing a receding trend though a population of over four lakh people was still affected by the deluge in 18 districts of the state, officials said on Saturday. Rainfall has been less in most districts and scattered in some, leading to a recession in the water level of the major rivers. The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level in Dhubri, Kopili in Dharamtul, River Barak at Katakhal in Hailakandi and Kushiyara in Sribhumi. There was no report of any casualty during the day though a person was reported missing in Kamrup (Metro) district. A landslide took place in the Rupnagar area of Guwahati early on Saturday and a person has been reported missing. The current first wave of floods along with landslides due to heavy rainfall has so far claimed 21 lives. The floods have affected 1,296 villages under 54 revenue circles of 18 districts and 16,558.59 hectares of cropland are still

Despite SC ban illegal mining intensified near Kaziranga, says CEC report

The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has told the Supreme Court that illegal mining has continued and intensified in Assam's Parkup Pahar area near the Kaziranga National Park, despite a 2019 top court order banning all mining and related activities in and around the park's eco-sensitive zone. Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to around 65 per cent of the endangered one-horned rhino population in the world. It forms part of an important wildlife corridor between the Brahmaputra floodplains and the Karbi Anglong hills. The Supreme Court, acting on earlier findings by the CEC, had prohibited all mining and related activities in this region to prevent degradation of critical wildlife habitats and forested landscapes. Based on a complaint from an anonymous government employee in Assam and field-level verification, the CEC submitted a fresh report dated May 30 to the SC, saying that mining activities in the region have "continued and intensified" despite the apex court's

BRO working 24x7 to aid rain-hit Mizoram, Sikkim, Arunachal: Defence Min

According to the Directorate of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, BRO teams have been working relentlessly in treacherous terrain to restore critical connectivity

Watch: Flood situation in Assam critical; several dead | Northeast floods | Assam floods | Manipur

The flood situation in the Northeast remained critical as the toll due to deluge and landslides triggered by heavy rain has risen to 36.

After IWT abeyance, Pak stokes China-Brahmaputra threat: Assam CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that after India put the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, Pakistan is weaving a new "manufactured threat" narrative of what will happen if China stops Brahmaputra's flow into the country. He clarified that though China has not announced any such move, but even if it happens, it would in fact help mitigate the annual Assam floods. He said that most of Brahmaputra's flow is generated due to downpour in northeast India while glacial melt and limited Tibetan rainfall contribute to only 30-35 per cent of the river's water flow. In an X post titled 'What If China Stops Brahmaputra Water to India? A Response to Pakistan's New Scare Narrative', he said, 'After India decisively moved away from the outdated Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan is now spinning another manufactured threat: What if China stops the Brahmaputra's water to India?" 'Let's dismantle this myth -- not with fear, but with facts and national clarity," he added. Sarm

Gaurav Gogoi takes charge as Assam Congress chief ahead of elections

Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday assumed charge as the Assam Congress president and he is all set to lead the party in next year's assembly polls. He was handed over the reins by outgoing president Bhupen Kumar Borah, who had helmed the state's main opposition party for over three years, at the state Congress headquarters here. Senior party leaders, including AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh and Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Debabrata Saikia were present on the occasion. Gogoi visited Kamakhya temple before taking charge as the Congress's state unit chief. Speaking to reporters after assuming charge, Gogoi said the party will continue to be inspired by its ideology of equality and inclusiveness. "Inspired by the ideology of leaders from Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru to Hitestwar Saikia and Tarun Gogoi, we will together take the party forward," he said. Gogoi was named the new state unit chief by the party's central leadership last week at a time when

Assam, Meghalaya to install boundary pillars at 5 sites by August 15

CM Sarma stated that the meeting focused on the inter-state border dispute, artificial flooding in Guwahati, and the proposed construction of a multipurpose project at Kulsi along the Assam-Meghalaya

SC rejects plea on deportation drive in Assam, asks petitioner to move HC

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea which alleged that the Assam government has reportedly launched a "sweeping" drive to detain and deport persons suspected to be foreigners without nationality verification or exhaustion of legal remedies. A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma told the petitioner to approach the Gauhati High Court in the matter. "Why are you not going to the Gauhati High Court?" the bench asked senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, who appeared for petitioner All BTC Minority Students Union. Hegde said the plea was based on an order passed by the apex court earlier. "Please go to the Gauhati High Court," the bench observed. Hegde said the petitioner would withdraw the plea to take appropriate recourse before the high court. The bench allowed him to withdraw the plea. The plea, filed through advocate Adeel Ahmed, referred to a February 4 order of the top court which, while dealing with a separate petition, had directed Assam to .

Flood situation remains critical; Met dept predicts more rain in Assam

The flood situation in Assam remained grim on Monday with the water levels rising in many parts of the state, officials said. The India Meteorological Department's Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati has said that moderate rainfall is very likely to occur at most places of Assam, while heavy to very heavy rainfall has been predicted at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall in isolated places. A report by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) on Sunday night said that two more people lost their lives in Cachar and Sribhumi districts, and around four lakh people are reeling under the deluge across 15 districts. The total number of people losing their lives in this year's flood and landslides has increased to 10. Cachar is the worst hit with over one lakh people affected, followed by 85,000 people in Sribhumi and 62,000 in Nagaon, it added. The administration has been operating 155 relief camps and relief distribution centres in 12 districts, taking c

Northeast floods, landslides: Over 20 dead across Assam, Manipur, Arunachal

Relentless rain triggers flash floods, landslides across northeastern states; thousands displaced, infrastructure damaged