Page 12 - Northeast India

Manipur going via tough phase, will lay path for betterment of society: CM

Noting that ethnic strife-torn Manipur was going through a difficult phase, Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday asserted that his government will lay the path for betterment of the society. Speaking at the state-level International Yoga Day function at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Singh said the current situation in Manipur is a turning point for indigenous people and their future and if things are tackled wisely, a safe and secure future is guaranteed. "We shouldn't allow emotions and politics to drive our actions, and in the process divert from the core issues. We know we are tired... but we have to endure it for a few more days. We cannot be happy without going through a tough phase," he said. More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence in Manipur between hills-based Kuki-Zo people and Imphal Valley-based Meiteis since May last year.

Over 200 tourists evacuated from Sikkim's Lachung, 1,000 still stranded

Fifteen more stranded tourists were evacuated from Lachung and adjoining regions of Sikkim's landslides-hit Mangan district on Tuesday, officials said. The district administration along with Border Roads Organisation (BRO), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other volunteers are taking the stranded tourists to safer grounds, officials said. More tourists are likely to be evacuated and moved to safer places as the day progresses, they said. Sixty-four tourists were evacuated from North Sikkim's Lachung on Monday and moved to Mangan town, officials said. The district administration had to set up log bridges over the slides to facilitate movement by foot and by vehicles where roads were motorable, they said. Incessant rains since June 12 wreaked havoc in Mangan, causing multiple landslides, and severing connectivity to most parts of the district. Due to the blockage of various roads at several locations, around 1,200 tourists got strande

DM orders closure of schools in Sikkim's Mangan due to safety concerns

The Mangan district administration on Tuesday ordered the closure of all government schools in the district with immediate effect due to safety concerns of students in view of damage to property and road blockages. An ordered issued by District Magistrate Hem Kumar Chettri said government schools in Manul, Singhik, Mangan and Mangshilla clusters of Mangan block and Lingdong, Hee Gyathang, Passingdong, Lingzya, Tingvong and Gor clusters of Dzongu block will remain closed till further orders. The order stated that the district magistrate deemed it unsafe for the students to attend schools in view of the damage to property and road blockages in different areas of Mangan district due to continuous and heavy rainfall that occurred on the intervening night of June 12-13. The heads and staff of schools shall remain in the station, the order said, adding the decision shall come into force with immediate effect and shall remain valid till further orders. Incessant rains since June 12 wreake

Bengal govt issues alert for northern districts after heavy rain in Sikkim

Following incessant rainfall causing devastation in neighbouring Sikkim resulting in overflowing of the Teesta river, the West Bengal Irrigation department issued an alert for the northern districts of the state, an official said on Friday. The release of water from the barrages has resulted in rising the water level of the Teesta and because of that there is a threat of flood in areas on both sides of Teesta in Jalpaiguri district, he said. Teesta is one of the major rivers of the state, and Jalpaiguri district is in the floodplain of this river. A barrage across the river was built at Gajoldoba in the district. Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts in the northern part of West Bengal share borders with Sikkim where rain-triggered landslides left a trail of destruction and six dead people on Thursday. "The water of Teesta is rising because of the release of water from barrages in Sikkim. Teesta is coming down with great speed and an alert has been issued in this regard. We have taken

One killed, five missing as Sikkim hit by massive rain-triggered landslides

At least one person was killed and five others went missing as massive landslides triggered by incessant rainfall caused devastation in Sikkim's Mangan district, officials said on Thursday. Landslides blocked stretches of roads and several houses were inundated or damaged, while electricity poles were swept away, they said. The body of a person was found in Pakshep area of Mangan, while three persons went missing from Ambithang near Rangrang and two others from Pakshep. Three houses were damaged in Geythang, while several houses were damaged and roads blocked at Nampathang near Pentok, they said. The Bringbong police outpost was shifted to another nearby location due to a landslide while the foundation of a bridge at Sankalan was damaged. Mobile network services were affected in North Sikkim even as a request was made by the district administration to send an SDRF team with ration to Mangan, the officials said. Meanwhile, Mangan District Magistrate Hem Kumar Chettri convened an u

Militants torch police outposts, set 70 homes on fire in Manipur's Jiribam

Tensions heightened in Manipur's Jiribam district on Saturday after suspected militants torched two police outposts, a forest office and at least 70 houses, prompting the authorities to transfer the superintendent of police, officials said. A contingent of more than 70 state police commandos was airlifted from Imphal to Jiribam to assist security personnel in their operations against militants, they said. Meanwhile, around 239 Meitei people, mostly women and children, were evacuated from peripheral areas of Jiribam on Friday, and moved to a newly set up relief camp at a multi-sports complex in the district, the officials said. According to a senior officer, suspected militants torched more than 70 houses in Lamtai Khunou, Dibong Khunou, Nunkhal and Begra villages. He said the villagers vacated their residences and took shelter in a relief camp. The SP's transfer order was issued hours after police outposts of Jiri Mukh and Choto Bekra and the Goakhal forest beat office were set on

More than 200 people move to relief camp in Manipur's Jiribam district

More than 200 people belonging to the Meitei community have been evacuated from their villages in Manipur's Jiribam district and moved to a newly set up relief camp after violence broke out following the killing of a man allegedly by militants, officials said Saturday. The houses of the people staying in the relief camp at Jiri Sports Complex were burnt in the outlying villages of Lamtai khunou, Dibong Khunou, Nunkhal and Begra in the Jiribam district by suspected militants. Most of the newly displaced people were staying in villages more than 30 km from Jiribam town, an official said, adding "more security personnel have been rushed to the area." The Manipur police have ordered state police commando personnel based in Imphal Valley to proceed to Jiribam on Saturday for duty with immediate effect. Tension erupted in ethnic strife-torn Manipur's Jiribam district on Thursday evening after a 59-year-old man belonging to one community was killed allegedly by militants belonging to ...

SKM supremo PS Tamang to take oath as Sikkim Chief Minister on June 10

The swearing-in ceremony of PS Tamang as Sikkim chief minister was deferred by a day and the SKM supremo will now take oath for the second term on June 10, party leaders said on Friday. The decision to defer the swearing-in ceremony to June 10 was taken during the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) legislature party meeting, held earlier in the day at the chief minister's official residence, Mintokgang, as Tamang will visit Delhi on Sunday to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Narendra Modi as prime minister for the third time, they said. Tamang is likely to leave for New Delhi on Saturday, an SKM leader said. "Tamang and his council of ministers will now take oath on June 10 at Paljor stadium," another party leader said. During the legislature party meeting, the newly elected SKM MLAs unanimously adopted a resolution to extend the party's support to Modi. We congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji and the NDA on the remarkable victory in the Lok Sabha elections. The Sikkim ...

SKM supremo Prem Singh Tamang to take oath as Sikkim CM on June 9

Sikkim Krantikari Morcha supremo Prem Singh Tamang on Wednesday said he would take oath as the chief minister of the state for the second term on June 9. The swearing-in ceremony of Tamang and his cabinet will be held at Paljor Stadium in the state capital Gangtok. "The swearing ceremony of the new council of ministers will take place on June 9 at Paljor Stadium as it had happened five years ago," he told a media outlet here. A large number of people from various parts of Sikkim as well as SKM cadres are expected to attend the programme, he said. Tamang, who spearheaded the ruling SKM's landslide victory in the assembly polls and the lone Lok Sabha seat in Sikkim, thanked the people for reposing faith in the party yet again. SKM won 31 of the 32 assembly seats in the polls which occurred simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections. Tamang also lauded SKM leaders and its cadres for their dedication and hard work, which "led to the massive electoral victory for the party". In repl

People's trust, hard work of SKM behind landslide victory: Sikkim CM Tamang

Sikkim Krantikari Morcha supremo Prem Singh Tamang on Sunday gave credit for the party's landslide victory in the assembly election in the state to the hard work of the SKM cadre and the trust of the people in his government. The SKM returned to power in the Himalayan state for the second time in a row by securing 26 seats till now in the 31-member assembly. Counting is underway and the party is leading in five other seats. After the landslide win, Tamang who is also the chief minister, congratulated the party supporters and the voters of Sikkim. "It is because of the love and trust of the people which we have managed to secure in the past five years in government. Besides, party cadres worked very hard. Now we have the next five years to give our 100 per cent for the people of Sikkim," he said at a gathering in Paljor Stadium in Gangtok. Tamang won from both Rhenock and Soreng-Chakung constituencies that he contested. In 2019, the SKM had won 17 seats and unseated the Sikkim ...

Death toll in Mizoram landslides rises to 29; among them 21 locals

The death toll in landslides in Mizoram climbed to 29 after the body of a 34-year-old woman was found in Tlawng River in Kolasib district, officials said. The woman, identified as Vanlalruali, and her husband had been missing after being hit by a landslide in Aibawk village in Aizawl district on Tuesday. The woman's body was found in the river in Hortoki village in Kolasib district, which borders Assam, on Friday, they said. Her body was taken to Kawnpui after being fished out of the river and her family members confirmed her identity. Search for five other missing persons four of whom are from Melthum, including a six-month-old, besides Vanlalruali's husband is underway. The deaths were reported in multiple landslides in Aizawl district on Tuesday. Of the deceased, 21 were locals while eight were migrants from Jharkhand and Assam. Chief Minister Lalduhoma announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased. He said the government has earmarked

Flood in Assam: Nearly 200K people including 36,000 children affected

The flood waters submerged 3238.8 hectares of crop area in the flood-hit districts

Arriving early: Monsoon sets in over Kerala and Northeast, says IMD

Meteorologists meanwhile said that the rains after arriving over Kerala will quickly cover neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka but then might slacken a bit

Cyclone Remal forces train cancellations in Northeast as water levels rise

Several train are being cancelled in the northeast regions due to Cyclone Remal which triggered heavy rains and landslides in the region. A special train will run on May 30 for affected passengers

Southwest monsoon arrives in Kerala, says IMD: Here is what it means

The Southwest Monsoon has arrived in Kerala and advanced into much of Northeast India, the IMD announced on Thursday

Meghalaya set to attract pvt investments worth Rs 8K cr: CM Conrad Sangma

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday said Meghalaya is set to attract private investments amounting to Rs 8,000 crore in the current fiscal, attributing this to a new industrial policy aimed at transforming the state into a USD 10 billion economy. "The investment in Meghalaya is an outcome of the new industrial policy that has created an ecosystem for ease of doing business," he said while addressing a workshop on the 'Human Development Leadership Programme' in Tura. Discussing past policies that discouraged investors, Sangma noted, "The system was tedious and time-consuming. Our new industrial policy has provided a framework to give clearance to different statutory requirements within a specified time frame, which is facilitating investors". He revealed that nearly Rs 4,000 crore in investment has been secured in the past year alone. This includes a Rs 2,500-crore thermal power plant to generate 450 megawatt of electricity, an ethanol plant, a beverage manufacturing unit, and

Tripura govt working on arrangement to bring fuel, goods via B'desh: Min

The Tripura government has been working on an arrangement to strengthen the supply of fuel and essential goods via Bangladesh, a minister said. The alternative arrangement to bring fuel and goods to Tripura will bypass rail links through Assam and the national highway connecting the state's capital Agartala with the neighbouring state, he said. Notably, the northeastern state had faced a severe fuel crisis after the derailment of a goods train in Assam's Jatinga. Disruption of traffic movement on the AssamAgartala highway, considered a lifeline for Tripura, and through the rail links connecting the neighbouring state due to landslides during the monsoon season is common. "In view of the recent disruption in the railway network in Assam's Jatinga, we are working on alternative arrangements to ensure a seamless supply of fuel and goods via Bangladesh. The Agartala-Gangasagar (Bangladesh) rail tracks will be ready for goods transportation in the next six months to one year. Once the .

Maitri Setu, Agartala-Akhaura rail link to be operational soon: Tripura CM

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said the Maitri Setu in South Tripura and Agartala-Akhaura (Bangladesh) rail link will become operational very soon. The Matri Setu built over river Feni connecting South Tripura's Sabroom with Bangladesh's Ramgarh was jointly inaugurated on March 9, 2021 and Agartala- Nischintapur (Indian part of Agartala-Akhaura rail link) was inaugurated on November 1, 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina. But both connectivity facilities are yet to be made operational. "Election is almost over, and a new government will be formed. Under the leadership of PM Modi, who has always emphasized the Act East Policy and provided us with the HIRA (highway, i-way, railway, airway) model, the Maitri Setu will become operational soon", the chief minister told reporters on Friday. "The trial in Agartala-Akhaura railway link has already been completed, and it will also be made operational soon," Saha said, adding that many investo

Share of North East in MF assets more than doubles to Rs 40,324 cr in 4 yrs

The share of North East in overall mutual fund assets in the country more than doubled in the last 4 years to Rs 40,324 crore in March 2024, spurred by increased awareness and growing interest among retail investors to invest in equities, a report by ICRA Analytics said. Also, this signals a growing appetite among investors from smaller towns and cities to invest in mutual funds. The combined share of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura rose to 0.73 per cent of the total average asset under management (AAUM) of the mutual fund industry, which stood at Rs 55.01 lakh crore in March 2024. The share was around 0.67 per cent in March 2020, when the industry's AAUM was at Rs 24.71 lakh crore. Data for Sikkim was not provided. In March 2020, these states had an asset base of Rs 16,446 crore as compared to Rs 40,324 crore in March this year. "Though the contribution of these states to the total AAUM of the industry is still small in percentage terms,

Storm, heavy rains damage homes in Meghalaya's Khasi Jaintia hills

Several houses were damaged and more than 400 people affected as a storm accompanied by heavy rains lashed several villages in Meghalaya's Khasi Jaintia Hills region, officials said on Monday. The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region for another 48 hours, they said. "At least 427 people were affected as their homes were destroyed or partially destroyed in at least 13 villages of Khasi Jaintia Hills region of Meghalaya on Sunday," a senior disaster management official told PTI. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the district administration is working on a war footing to provide relief to the affected people. "Due to strong winds and heavy rains in some parts of the state, many houses have been damaged. Have asked the administration to immediately provide relief," the CM posted on X. The district deputy commissioners have been directed to remain alert and to provide relief whenever required, a Home Department official said.