3 killed as mini truck collides with AgartalaSilchar Express in Tripura
At least three people died in Tripura on Thursday after a mini truck collided with the AgartalaSilchar Express in the AmbasaManu section of Dhalai district. Railway officials said the goods-laden vehicle entered the track at an unauthorised crossing, leading to a direct impact with the train engine.
Road quality non-negotiable, officers and contractors to be held accountable: Nitin Gadkari
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari discussed Indias recent infrastructure developments with TNIE , citing a 60% expansion of the national highway network to over 1.46 lakh km. He outlined ongoing projects worth Rs 12.20 lakh crore, major highway corridors, city ring roads, reforms in land acquisition and environmental clearances, measures to ensure road maintenance accountability, the rollout of GPS-based toll collection, and Bihars progress relative to other states. Excerpts Q) The country has seen a massive expansion of its national highway network in recent years. What is the current status of this growth? Indias national highway network has surged from 91,287 km in 2014 to over 1.46 lakh km today, a 60% increase. Currently, 48,536 km of projects worth Rs 12.20 lakh crore are underway, with completed schemes totaling Rs 16 lakh crore and upcoming projects at Rs 15 lakh crore. Sixteen major highway corridors, including the Arunachal Frontier Highway (Rs 30,000 crore) and ShillongSilchar Greenfield Highway (Rs 23,000 crore), have been sanctioned to boost regional connectivity. Ring roads in cities like Ayodhya, Kanpur, and Guwahati aim to ease congestion. In 11 years, 1.06 lakh km of highways have been constructed, with the ministrys budget rising ninefold to Rs 2.87 lakh crore. Q) Some projects still face delays in projects caused by land acquisition and environmental clearance issues? Land acquisition falls under state governments, while environmental clearances involve multiple departments, making coordination key. Reducing delays is a test of effective leadership. We prioritise sustainable planning, ensuring timely land acquisition and fast-track approvals for forest, wildlife, and environmental clearances. At least 90% of land and clearance requirements must now be completed before project awards.Regular meetings with state officials and the PM Gati Shakti initiative have streamlined inter-ministerial coordination. Digital portals, Bhoomi Amount Digital Portal for land and Parivesh for environmental approvals simplify processes, accelerating project delivery and enhancing efficiency nationwide. Q) India has seen record construction of highways in recent years but their maintenance still seems to be a challenge. For each fault, we (the Central Government) are held responsible. About 80 percent of complaints on social media are not under our jurisdiction or do not pertain to national highways (NHs). Our roads are of good quality; however, there have been some problems. We are continuously improving the technology and will definitely address these issues. Regarding accountability, we are serious about ensuring that officers and contractors are responsible if roads are not maintained properly. There should be no compromise with quality, and we are committed to fixing lapses wherever they occur to maintain high standards. Q) How long will it take to implement the GPS based Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system? It has already started at some locations and will be introduced at 4 to 6 places from November 15. We will move further gradually, expanding the initiative step by step while monitoring progress and ensuring smooth implementation at each stage. Q) With Bihar heading into elections, how does the state compare to others in development across key sectors like water, power, transport, and roads? Bihar needs accelerated development compared to other states. Water, power, transport and roads are the basic requirements for progress. The developmental work undertaken by our government, in the last 10-11 years, has transformed the face of Bihar. Business and industries are growing steadily in Bihar. The young people of Bihar see their future in development and employment. They do not bother about Jaat (Caste), Pant (Community), Dharma (Religion) and Bhasha (Language). They aspire to excel in education, seek better job opportunities, and want to actively contribute to the nations growth. I think that the state has sufficient electricity supply. Irrigation has significantly improved. The road infrastructure has also got better. Earlier, the Ganga had just two bridges, now we have 13. In the highway sector; projects worth Rs five lakh crores are going on. Projects having a cost of Rs 2.5 lakh crores either have been completed or on the verge of completion. Some will start soon. We are building big highways; Varanasi-Kolkata highways cost of Rs 40,000 crores and Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway is worth Rs 50,000 crores. All these highways will change the landscape of Bihar. With a strong and vast network of highways and robust power sector, the industry will reach the state naturally and will ensure Bihar's comprehensive development. Q) Staying on with politics, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi recently held a press conference in which he alleged Vote Chori In Haryana elections. He along with other opposition parties has been questioning Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which started in Bihar. How do you see this issue? Rahul Gandhi speaks for himself. Even his party people don't take him seriously. There is no need to respond to his baseless comments.
Bodies Of Three NIT Silchar Students Recovered From Waterfall In Assams Dima Hasao
Three studenst from NIT Silchar drowned at a waterfall near Harangajao in Dima Hasao. Bodies recovered by SDRF, post-mortem at Haflong.
Bodies Of 3 College Students Who Drowned In Assam Waterfall Found
The bodies of three missing students of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Silchar were recovered from a waterfall in Assam's Dima Hasao district on Sunday.
3 NIT students drown in waterfall in Assam
Haflong: Three students from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Silchar, drowned in a waterfall in Assams Dima Hasao district, officials said on Sunday. The incident took place at the Bulchol (Hmunthajao) waterfall, located in Bolsom Bagan of Harangajao on Saturday afternoon, they said. The tragic mishap occurred when the group of NIT students visited Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Three NIT Silchar students drown in Assam waterfall
GUWAHATI: Three first year students of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silchar in Assam drowned on Saturday. The incident occurred at the Bulchol (Hmunthajao) waterfall in Harangajao area of the hill district of Dima Hasao. The deceased Sauhard Rai, Sarbavartika Singh (both from Uttar Pradesh) and Radhika (from Bihar) were out on an outing to the scenic site when they accidentally fell into the waterfall. The bodies of Sauhard Kumar and Radhika Kumari were recovered at around 11.35 am and 11.43 am of Sunday respectively, an official report stated. The body of Sarbavartika was recovered on Saturday evening. Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force, Assam Rifles, police, District Disaster Management Authority, and local community members were engaged in the rescue operations. Authorities said poor mobile connectivity and lack of vehicular access in the hilly terrain affected rescue efforts. They advised the public to exercise caution while visiting waterfalls and other natural sites in the area during the post-monsoon season.
Outing turns fatal, NIT Silchar pupil drowns, 2 missing
Assams Silchar residents sing Amaar sonar Bangla to protest BJPs seditious tag
If a song penned by Tagore 66 years before the birth of Bangladesh can be objectionable, the same yardstick should be applied to Sindh mentioned in the Indian national anthem, says expert
After Assam CM's treason order, Silchar residents sing Tagore song in protest
GUWAHATI: Residents of Silchar town in Assams Cachar district sang Amar Sonar Bangla, Ami Tomay Bhalobasi in unison to send across a message that the singing of the song is not an anti-national act as viewed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the ruling BJP. Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore penned this patriotic song, meaning my beloved Bengal, I love you, in 1905 during the first partition of Bengal. Decades later, Bangladesh adopted it as its national anthem. A group of people, including intellectuals and members of NGOs and cultural groups, gathered at the statue of freedom fighter Khudiram Bose in Silchar town on Thursday evening and sang the song. They said they were proud of Rabindra Sangeet (Tagore songs). Former Vice Chancellor of Assam University Tapadhir Bhattacharjee said he could never imagine that singing a Tagore song would be viewed as an act of treason one day. He called upon people to pay tribute to Tagore by proudly singing the song. Social activist Ajay Rai said it was unfortunate that the chief minister ordered the filing of an FIR against a senior leader for singing the song. Cachar, Sribhumi and Hailakandi are the three districts of southern Assams Barak Valley adjoining Bangladesh and where Bengalis are in a large majority. The controversy erupted after a video of a Congress leaders rendition of the song at a Seva Dal meeting in Sribhumi went viral. Bidhu Bhushan Das, a septuagenarian, had started his address by singing the song. Reacting sharply, the chief minister had stated that the commencement of a meeting of the Congress with the singing of Bangladeshs national anthem was unacceptable in Assam. He had instructed the police to file a case of treason against Congress members in Sribhumi. We will lodge an FIR and the police will take action under appropriate sections of law, he had stated. The Congress had slammed the BJP for its ignorance, with Jorhat MP and Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi stating that the song conveys the sentiments of Bengali culture. Meanwhile, the Congress leader said he had no idea if any FIR was registered against him. Nobody contacted me, he said.
Assam cabinet approves introduction of Unified Pension Scheme
The Assam cabinet approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) as an option under the National Pension System for state government employees, ensuring old-age security independent of market returns. Additionally, the cabinet sanctioned funds for a flyover in Silchar, climate-resilient rural bridges, and the ASTHA project to enhance tertiary healthcare, including a new Gauhati Medical College and Hospital campus.
NIT Silchar suspends five Bangladeshi students for alleged involvement in campus violence
GUWAHATI: The National Institute of Technology (NIT), Silchar in Assam has suspended five Bangladeshi students for one year for their alleged involvement in campus violence on the night of September 8. In an order dated September 12, the Registrar of NIT Silchar announced the academic suspension along with expulsion from hostel for a period of two semesters from the institute with immediate effect (JulyDecember 2025 and JanuaryJune 2026). The action was taken by the competent authority based on the recommendations of the Standing Institute Disciplinary Committee, the order further stated. The five Bangladeshi students -- Sk Shahriar Ahmed Akash, Shimantor Ghosh, Saumyajit Paul, Sazzad Hossain Rafi and Md Nur Hossain -- were enrolled under the Indian Council of Cultural Relations and Study in India scholarships. Stating that the five will be sent back to Bangladesh, Dilip Kumar Baidya, director of the institute, said there was evidence suggesting their direct involvement in the incident. On the night of the incident, a group of third-year Bangladeshi students, allegedly armed with rods, knives and screwdrivers, had attacked another group of final-year Bangladeshi students, leaving several of them injured. Two had to be admitted in the intensive care unit of the Silchar Medical College and Hospital. The motive behind the attack was not known.
Five Bangladeshi students in NIT Silchar suspended for campus violence, to be deported
NIT Silchar has suspended five Bangladeshi students. These students are facing deportation. The reason is their alleged involvement in violent clashes on campus. Authorities also suspect them of possessing narcotics. An investigation revealed their active participation in the violence. The incident occurred on September 8. Some students attacked their compatriots.
Watch: Mizorams first railway in over 75 years: What you need to know
Mizoram is now connected to Indias railway network with its first-ever train. The BairabiSairang railway line, spanning 51.38 km, links Aizawl to Silchar in Assam, cutting travel time from ten hours by road to just three hours by train. Built at a cost of 5,021 crore, the project features 48 tunnels, 55 major bridges, and the iconic Bridge No. 144, taller than the Qutub Minar.
No jobs in railway station yard: Man turned away after disclosing religion
A young Muslim man in Assam has alleged he faced religious discrimination after applying for a mechanical engineer post via the popular job portal Indeed. Shamim Barbhuiya had applied for a job post at a unit in Bihara Railway Station Yard in Silchar through Indeed. The job description stated, Candidate must be Bengali by birth Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Mizoram residents hope the new Bairabi-Sairang line brings seamless changes into their life
Travel time between Silchar and Aizawl to be cut from 8-10 hours by road to under four hours by train
PM Modi likely to visit Mizoram, Manipur on September 13
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Mizoram and Manipur on September 13, with preparations underway in both states, officials said. In Mizoram, PM Modi is likely to inaugurate the 51.38-km BairabiSairang railway line, a key infrastructure project under the Centre's Act East Policy aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting economic integration in the Northeast. The new rail link will connect Aizawl with Assams Silchar, and by extension, with the rest of the country. Mizoram Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena held a high-level meeting on Monday to review preparations, including security, traffic control, and public participation. Following his Mizoram visit, the Prime Minister is expected to travel to Manipur, his first trip to the state since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023. However, officials in Imphal said they have not yet received formal confirmation of the visit. 'Lacks empathy': Congress slams PM Modi as he leaves for '35th' trip abroad since start of Manipur ethnic conflict
Eviction drives to be carried out in Barak valley: Himanta
Silchar: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday that eviction drives to clear encroachment on forest land will be undertaken in the Barak valley districts in the same way the exercise is being carried out in the Brahmaputra valley. Speaking at a programme after unveiling a 24-feet-tall statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
CBI arrests 3 in Assam for illegal SIM card racket
One of the three arrested from Silchar in southern Assam is a territorial sales manager for a private telecom company
PM to inaugurate Bairabi-Sairang railway line in Mizoram on September 13
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Bairabi-Sairang railway line in Mizoram on September 13, marking Aizawl's entry onto the railway map. This 51.38-km project, a key part of the Centre's Act East policy, will connect Aizawl with Silchar and the rest of India.
Fake doctor in Assam handles 50 caesarean sections in a decade, held
GUWAHATI: The Assam police arrested a fake doctor after he allegedly handled several pregnancy cases and performed more than 50 caesarean sections for a decade. The accused, Pulak Malakar, hails from southern Assams Barak Valley. The locals knew him as an obstetrician and gynaecologist. He practised at a private hospital in Silchar of Cachar district. According to reports, Malakar worked as a fourth-grade employee in various hospitals prior to becoming a doctor with a forged MBBS certificate, allegedly obtained from a racket by shelling out a huge amount of money. The accused was arrested two days ago. He was produced in a local court and it sent him to a six-day police remand. Senior Superintendent of Police Numal Mahatta told the media the police had received inputs about the man treating patients by using a fake degree. A resultant investigation revealed his certificate from a government medical college in Odisha was forged. During the course of investigation, we learnt that he had been working in Silchar since 2016 using a fake medical degree. A case was registered against him with the Sadar Police Station, Silchar under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the SP said. He suspected that the racket selling fake MBBS certificates was operating from the Barak Valley. He warned that the police would dig deep and arrest all those involved in it. In January this year, the Assam government formed an anti-quackery and vigilance cell, a special unit that works in tandem with the police. Several arrests involving fake doctors and quacks were made in following months. The state Assembly had in February last year, passed The Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024, 'criminalising non-scientific' magical healing practices conducted by individuals with malicious intent. The Bill aims to bring social awakening in society and create healthy, science-based knowledge and a safe environment to protect human health against the evil and sinister practices thriving on ignorance and the ill-health of people.
Real Life 'Munna Bhai MBBS'? Fake Assam Doctor Who Performed 50 C-Sections Arrested
Pulok Malakar, posing as a doctor for over a decade, was arrested in Silchar, for performing over 50 surgeries without valid qualifications
Assam's 'Munna Bhai MBBS', Who Performed Over 50 C-Sections, Arrested
The accused, Pulok Malakar, was a known gynaecologist and performed surgeries for over a decade at two private hospitals in Silchar.
Meghalaya initiates land acquisition process for 23,000 cr. Shillong-Silchar high-speed corridor
The 166.80-km corridor will begin at Mawlyngkhung near Shillong and end at Panchgram near Silchar.
Was Scared, Shivering: IndiGo Flier Slapped During Panic Attack
Hussain Ahmed Majumdar, a resident of Assam, suffered a panic attack when he was travelling from Mumbai to Silchar via Kolkata on Thursday.
Assam man allegedly thrashed to death by BSF personnel
A 30-year-old man, Nirmol Namasudra, died in Cachar district, Assam. Allegedly, Border Security Force personnel beat him near the India-Bangladesh border. The incident occurred on Friday night. Nirmol succumbed to his injuries on Saturday at Silchar Medical College and Hospital. Locals protested, demanding action against the accused BSF personnel. Authorities are trying to control the situation in Katigorah.
Hossain Ahmed Mazumdar, 32, went missing after experiencing a panic attack on a Mumbai-Kolkata IndiGo flight and being slapped by a co-passenger. He was supposed to take a connecting flight to Silchar but disappeared instead, sparking panic in his family. A viral video of the incident added to public outrage. Nearly a day later, he was found in Barpeta, Assam, after travelling by train. Questions remain around the airline's response and mental health handling onboard.
Man Slapped On IndiGo Flight Goes Missing, Found Later At Railway Station
A missing complaint was filed, and police found he hadn't taken the flight to Silchar or left Kolkata airport.
A young man from Assam went missing after being slapped on an IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Kolkata, sparking outrage. Hossain Ahmed Mazumdar, possibly experiencing a panic attack, was assaulted and then disappeared after failing to board his connecting flight to Silchar.
IndiGo passenger goes missing after fellow flier slaps him during in-flight panic attack
A young man, Hossain Ahmed Mazumdar, from Cachar, Assam, is missing. He was slapped by a co-passenger on a Mumbai-Kolkata IndiGo flight. A video shows the incident. Hossain was traveling home. He did not arrive in Silchar. His family is worried. IndiGo says the unruly passenger was handed over to security. The airline did not confirm if Hossain received help.
Jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria threatened to kill my son, alleges Punjab Congress MP Randhawa
CHANDIGARH: Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament from Gurdaspur, Punjab, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, has alleged that the jailed gangster Jagdeep Singh alias Jaggu Bhagwanpuria has threatened to kill his son, Udhayveer Singh Randhawa. Randhawa, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, who is currently in the national capital for the Monsoon Session of Parliament, said that a person named Parminder Singh from Fatehgarh Churian and a few other party supporters came to meet his son at 10 am on Thursday. An hour after a picture from the meeting was posted online, there was a firing at his son's turban shop. But thankfully, no one was injured. I have brought the matter to the notice of the Punjab DGP, he said. He alleged that even from inside prison, Bhagwanpuria was threatening people and that one of his associates had also received a threatening call. After the firing incident on Thursday evening, one person repeatedly wrote objectionable comments on my son's social media post, Randhawa added. He questioned the functioning of the states law enforcement agencies, asking, Where is their intelligence, where is their cyber crime unit? If a common individual posts a status with a gun in hand, they are arrested immediately. But those who are openly threatening otherswhat action is being taken against them? Threats didnt deter us even during the days of terrorism. We are not afraid. But my concern is: where does the law and order situation in the state stand today? Alleging that law and order has collapsed in Punjab, Randhawa pointed to a recent incident where a prominent businessman was shot dead in broad daylight outside his showroom. There have been several other serious crimes. What is the situation today? he asked. This latest incident comes just over a month after Bhagwanpurias mother, Harjit Kaur, and a relative, Karanvir Singh, were shot dead in Batala, Gurdaspur district, on June 26. The rival Davinder Bambiha gang claimed responsibility for the killings. Randhawa said that after the Batala incident, an MLA from the ruling AAP claimed the killing of Bhagwanpurias mother was a political murder. The police should have taken his statement and questioned how it was a political murder. What are the police doing? I have repeatedly brought to the notice of senior officers the issue of a police officers nexus with gangstersa matter that threatens national securitybut no action has been taken, he said. Earlier, Randhawa also posted on X, stating: Jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria has threatened to kill my son. One of my associates met my son and within an hour of leaving, he was fired upon today. Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal have turned Punjab into a gangster's paradise where law and order have totally collapsed. I am in Delhi for the Parliament session. No gangster can shake me! Randhawa has previously accused Bhagwanpuria of influencing voters in Dera Baba Nanak during elections, including the November 2023 assembly bypoll, where he alleged the gangsters family intimidated locals to support AAP candidates. Responding to the allegations, AAP spokesperson Neel Garg said Randhawa should provide full details so the matter can be investigated. He added, Everyone knows that gangsters got patronage under previous Congress governments. The AAP government has zero tolerance towards gangsterism. We do not spare anyone who tries to disturb law and order. Since coming to power, we have jailed several gangsters and even attached their properties. Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, a gangster with over 128 criminal casesincluding murder, extortion, arms smuggling, and drug traffickingis currently lodged in Silchar Central Jail, Assam, under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. He was shifted there from Bathinda Central Jail in March this year. He was already in the custody of Punjab Police in connection with the 2022 murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala and faces several other criminal charges. Reacting to Randhawa's claims, Leader of the Opposition in Punjab and senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa said, A jailed gangster openly threatening a senior INC leader, former Deputy CM, and sitting MPthis is not just a law and order failure, its a damning indictment of the complete collapse of governance under Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal. If gangsters can intimidate elected representatives from behind bars, what chance does the common man in Punjab stand? Is this the badlav AAP promiseda state where criminals rule and citizens live in fear? Bajwa accused the AAP government of turning Punjab into a playground for gangsters, saying, While Kejriwal remains busy marketing false narratives, Punjab has become lawless under AAP. Punjab Congress president and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring also condemned the incident, saying, A gangster has the audacity to threaten a senior INC leader from inside jail! Imagine the plight of common people in Punjab. This reflects the complete collapse of law and order in Punjab.
