Latest news with #Baruah
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Assam govt announces Rs 4 lakh aid for families of Guwahati landslide victims
GUWAHATI: The Assam government on Sunday announced ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to families of the five persons killed in landslides in the city in the last few days. Department of Housing and Urban Affairs (DoHUA) minister Jayanta Malla Baruah, announcing the financial aid, said there have been "logistical challenges" in tackling the waterlogging problem of Guwahati city and corrective steps are being taken. He was talking to reporters after chairing a review meeting with the Kamrup Metropolitan district administration, Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) and other concerned departments to assess the ongoing relief measures and enhance preparedness for artificial flooding caused by incessant rainfall in Guwahati. The meeting focused on immediate response protocols, distribution of essential relief materials and streamlining coordination among departments to ensure timely assistance to flood-affected citizens. The city had witnessed massive waterlogging since the early hours of Friday due to heavy rains, with main localities still inundated. Landslides in the city and outskirts had claimed five lives during the period. Baruah said the meeting decided to grant an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the five victims. He said ensuring timely delivery of relief materials is a top priority for the department and items such as mosquito repellents, candles, sanitary napkins and baby food are being prioritised for quick distribution in areas hit by waterlogging and power outages. "Relief materials will now be pre-positioned in elevated spots across flood-prone zones so that they can reach affected families within 2 to 3 hours of flooding," he added.
The Print
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Print
8 dead in 24 hrs as flash flood, landslides hit parts of Assam
'Two people, including a child, died due to the flood in Golaghat district, while one person drowned in flood waters in Lakhimpur district,' ASDMA said. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reports, three people died in floods and five died in landslides. Guwahati: Eight people died due to floods and landslides in Assam in the last 24 hours, according to the officials. On the other hand, five people lost their lives and two others were injured due to landslides in the Kamrup (Metro) district. Following incessant and heavy rainfall in Assam and neighbouring states, 175 villages under 20 revenue circles in 12 districts of the state–Dhemaji, South Salmara, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Darrang, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Kamrup, Biswanath, Tinsukia, Karbi Anglong West–were affected in the first spell of floods in the state. The ASDMA flood report stated that 58091 people in 12 districts were affected by the first spell of floods. 791.32 hectares of crop-land submerged by flood waters. Nearly 7000 flood-affected people are taking shelter in relief camps and relief distribution centres set by the district administration. The district administration has set up 16 relief camps and relief distribution centres in the flood-hit areas. The flood waters washed away 194 animals. 75918 animals have been affected in the flood-hit districts. State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, and local administration are engaged in rescue operations in the flood-affected areas. In the last 24 hours, flood waters damaged 22 roads, one bridge, breached 3 embankments, damaged 4 other embankments, irrigation canals, school buildings, Anganwadi centres, etc. On the other hand, 9865 people were affected by urban floods in Kamrup, Dibrugarh, Darrang, Cachar, and Kamrup (M) districts. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Assam Housing Urban & Affairs Minister (DoHUA) Jayanta Mallabaruah visited various flood-affected areas in Guwahati to assess the prevailing situation and review the government's emergency response measures. During his inspection, the Minister visited several critical sites, including Juripar, the inundated stretch from Basistha Chariali to Balughat along the National Highway, the area near Excel Care Hospital, Pandu Temple Ghat, Kamakhya Foothills, B Baruah Road, GS Road, the area behind the AGP Office in Ambari, Pibco Point, Rukminigaon, Rukmininagar, and others. Minister Baruah addressed the media and explained that many of these flood-affected zones function like basins, collecting runoff from the surrounding hills. He informed that two major drainage channels are currently under construction to divert this water. (ANI) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Also Read: In naming Gaurav Gogoi as its state chief, Congress rolls the dice in Himanta's Assam
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Climate
- Business Standard
Five dead in Assam landslides as heavy rain triggers floods in districts
Five persons were killed in landslides in Assam in the last 24 hours as incessant rain led to floods in six districts, affecting over 10,000 people, an official bulletin said on Saturday. Three districts in the western part of the state remained on 'red alert' and eight more were on 'orange alert', as per Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) data, while rainwaters from upstream areas in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya aggravated the flood situation in the state. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said all five deaths have been reported from the Kamrup Metropolitan district. Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah had on Friday said that three members of a family, a mother-daughter duo and a niece, were killed in a landslide in Bonda area on the outskirts of Guwahati. He had said that several agencies were working to provide relief to affected people as massive waterlogging was reported from most localities in the city on Friday. Baruah inspected the situation in different parts of the city during the day to assess the prevailing situation and review the government's emergency response measures. Video of a person being taken for the last rites on a bamboo shaft from his residence amidst knee-deep waters from Rukminigaon area of the city led to sharp criticism among the citizens of the government's flood control measures. The local resident had reportedly died in his house and the family had to arrange for a bamboo shaft to take the body out to a dry place for it to be taken to the cremation ground. Several localities of the city remained submerged for the second day with different rescue agencies taking people to safer places as residents abandoned their waterlogged houses with no water or power supply. The ASDMA bulletin said floods have been reported in six districts, with five revenue circles of Kamrup Metropolitan, Kamrup and Cachar reeling under 'urban floods'. Floods have also been reported in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Golaghat, impacting eight revenue circles in these three districts. A total of 10,150 people have been affected by 'urban floods', with two camps and one relief distribution centre being opened. Nearly 2,000 people have been affected by floods in the other three districts, though no camps or relief distribution centres are operational in the flood-hit urban areas till now. One ring 'bandh' (a type of dyke) has been breached under the North Lakhimpur revenue circle. NDRF and SDRF personnel have been evacuating people in different affected parts, the bulletin added. Almost all the major rivers across the state were on a 'rising' water level trend, as per ASDMA information. The Brahmaputra was flowing near the danger level in Dibrugarh, Ranganadi in Lakhimpur, Dhansiri in Numaligarh, Jia Bharali in Sonitpur, Kopili in Kampur and Beki in Barpeta. As per the latest RMC data, Dhubri, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon have 'red alert' issued, while the districts of South Salmara Mankachar, Goalpara, Chirang, Baksa, Barpeta, Bajali, Dima Hasao and Cachar are on 'orange alert'. 'Red alert' implies 'warning/take action', and the districts with such a warning may witness heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places, with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places, and squally winds with speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph. An 'orange alert' asks people to be 'alert/be prepared to take action' for thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with gusty wind reaching wind speed 30 to 40 kmph with heavy to very heavy rain very likely at isolated places. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said on Friday that the state was facing an 'abnormal situation' due to incessant downpours caused by massive cloud cover over several parts of the Northeast. Heavy rainfall has also been recorded in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, aggravating the situation in Assam, especially in Guwahati, which has been hit by massive waterlogging, he said. A special casual leave was announced for government employees of Kamrup and Kamrup Metropolitan districts on Saturday, who have to commute some distance to reach their offices. Educational institutions have also been closed in the two districts on Saturday. Flight services at Guwahati airport were affected on Friday due to heavy rain and gusty winds, the officials said.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ulfa's 250 cadres training in 4 Myanmar camps: Centre
Guwahati: A new report to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal reveals that the Paresh Baruah-led faction of Ulfa has an estimated cadre strength of around 250, primarily based in four major camps in Myanmar. The submission by the Centre, also echoed by the Assam govt, states that the outfit maintains links with other Indian insurgent groups for "operational and logistical purposes" and its cadres are believed to possess about 200 weapons at present. The govt's report highlights Ulfa's ties with insurgent groups such as NSCN, CorCom, NLFT, KYKL, and PLA, which are also based in Myanmar. The tribunal, presided over by Justice Michael Zothankhuma of the Gauhati high court, upheld the ministry of home affairs' (MHA) Nov 2024 order declaring Baruah's faction — Ulfa (Independent) — along with all its wings and front organisations, as unlawful for five years. Ulfa was first declared an unlawful organisation in Nov 1990, and this classification has been continuously extended since then. The other Ulfa faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa joined peace talks in 2011 and subsequently signed a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) with the central and state govts on Dec 29, 2023. The anti-talk faction, led by Baruah, changed its nomenclature from Ulfa (anti-talk) to Ulfa (Independent) in April 2013. As per the constitution of Ulfa, one of the main objectives of the organisation is to achieve Assam's sovereignty through secession from India by armed revolution. The judge pointed out that such a claim for secession, as outlined in the organisation's constitution, comes within the scope and ambit of "unlawful activity", especially when the organisation has been found to have taken action towards it, by committing illegal acts, by words written, by signs and by visible representation. The Centre and Assam govts submitted that 89 cases have been registered against Ulfa, with 235 persons arrested. Between 2019 and 2024, two civilians and three Ulfa cadres were killed. Chargesheets have been filed in 21 of the 89 cases, while final reports have been submitted in 14. These cases involve bomb blasts, criminal conspiracy, extortion, arms recovery, Ulfa recruitment, and social media statements supporting the outfit. There are cases of Ulfaflag hoisting, dacoity, kidnapping, bomb recoveries, shootouts, ambushes on security personnel, and apprehensions of people attempting to join Ulfa. "The long and short of the evidence that has been adduced shows that Ulfa along with all its factions, wings and front organisations have initiated a violent campaign, with the object to secede the state of Assam from the Indian Union," the judge noted in his order. The tribunal order, notified by the MHA on Monday, observed that the govt has provided substantial proof of Ulfa's involvement in subversive activities across Assam, posing a severe threat to national security and integrity. The judge also noted that no representative from Ulfa appeared before the tribunal or provided any material to counter the govt's claims. "Hence, the evidence of the govt remains intact and the test of greater probability favours the govt. This Tribunal is of the view that the govt has produced considerable material before it, to confirm the declaration of the central govt that Ulfa is an unlawful association. This Tribunal thus finds that the materials produced by the state govt and on the basis of which the central govt declared Ulfa to be on unlawful association, is justified," the judge noted.
India Gazette
26-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Will be successful in our mission and corner Pakistan from all ends": All-party delegation member Pradan Baruah in South Korea
Seoul [South Korea], May 26 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party MP Pradan Baruah, part of the Indian Parliamentary delegation visiting South Korea to highlight India's stand on terrorism, said on Monday that the delegation will be 'successful in it mission and 'corner Pakistan from all ends'. The BJP MP, part of the delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, hailed Operation Sindoor. 'South Korea strongly condemns the (Pahalgam) attacks. They have strategic alliances with other countries and with ours as well... Operation Sindoor and the Union Home Ministry's efforts to eliminate terrorism are making significant progress, but Pakistan-sponsored terrorism is also trying to spread its activities. We are trying to take all these issues to the global stage... We are hopeful that we will be successful in our mission and corner Pakistan from all ends...,' Baruah told ANI. '(South) Korea is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, looking at all that, we are trying to capitalise on everything. We put forward our point of view, and we will report it all to the Indian government. If we work on that, we are hopeful that we will be successful in our mission and corner Pakistan from all ends,' Baruah said. Earlier the all-party delegation met with Sung il-Jong, Chairman of the National Defence Committee of South Korea's National Assembly, furthering India's diplomatic efforts to rally international support against terrorism in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam attack. During a meeting with think tanks in Seoul, Congress leader and delegation member Salman Khurshid addressed the ongoing challenges in Jammu and Kashmir, attributing renewed terror activity to the region's positive trajectory. Khurshid stated, 'This progress sounded unpleasant to the people across the border, who felt that they would lose fertile ground for their future activities. This was the time to strike.' South Korea's strategic affairs experts have said that India's response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam has been appropriate and said that the delegation will help create a strong and new image of India. Indian Ambassador to South Korea, Amit Kumar, said earlier today that there is a growing understanding in South Korea that free countries and democracies need to unite in the fight against terrorism. In an interview with ANI on Monday, the envoy noted that South Korea had 'issued a very strong condemnation of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam' on April 22, in which 26 civilians were killed. 'They were very clear about the fact that terrorism cannot be justified in any form. It cannot be condoned,' he added. This diplomatic effort is one of several launched by the Modi government as part of a coordinated diplomatic campaign following Operation Sindoor to inform global partners about Pakistan's links to terrorism and India's message of zero tolerance. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead. The operation targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists linked to groups including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)
