July 26, 2026 2:50 pm
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ONLINE AGE

(Online version of the Arunachal Age newspaper)

Author name: OnlineAge

REGIONAL

Toll in Assam floods rises to 11; over 3.10 lakh affected as major rivers in spate

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GUWAHATI : The toll in Assam floods increased to 11 with one more fatality reported on Tuesday even as over 3.10 lakh people remained affected by the deluge in 11 districts, officials said. Several major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Dikhow, Desang and Dhansiri, were flowing above the danger level in different parts of the state, with some of the water bodies having breached the “extreme flood” level. Relief and rescue operations were being carried out by multiple agencies, including the Army, NDRF, SDRF and Fire and Emergency Services. Train services remained affected for the second day as floodwaters inundated tracks in parts of Upper Assam, with the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) cancelling, short-terminating or diverting several trains and also announcing special trains for stranded passengers. An Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) statement said that one fatality was reported in Charaideo district, taking the toll in this year’s floods to 11. More than 3,10,800 people remained affected in 758 villages in Biswanath, Charaideo, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup, Karbi Anglong, Nagaon, Sivasagar and Tinsukia districts. In worst-hit Sivasagar district, the Dikhow and Desang rivers flowed above the “extreme flood level” in Sivsagar town and Nanglamoraghat, respectively, the ASDMA said. The Dhansiri River was in “severe flood situation” at Numaligarh in Golaghat district, it added. Other rivers in spate were the Brahmaputra at Neamatighat (Jorhat) and Buridihing at Khowang (Dibrugarh). Over 3.63 lakh people were affected by floods in 15 districts of the state on Monday. More than 9,000 people have been evacuated from different areas by the rescue agencies using boats, the ASDMA said. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was deployed in Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat districts, while SDRF teams were engaged in Lakhimpur, Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Morigaon, Hojai, Kamrup Metro, Kamrup, Nalbari and Barpeta. A total of 52 relief camps were operational, where 12,720 displaced people are currently taking shelter. A crop area of 14,411.267 hectares has also been submerged, the ASDMA release said. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said on Monday that cabinet ministers have been stationed in the affected districts to supervise relief measures, while MPs and MLAs from the flood-hit areas have also been asked to remain on the ground. NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said that due to severe flooding in and around Simaluguri town in Sivasagar district, train services on the Simaluguri-Namtiali and Simaluguri-Selenghat sections have been suspended. The NFR said additional special trains are being run to assist passengers affected by the disruptions. “These special additional trains will run till Friday and are expected to provide significant relief to stranded passengers. Moreover, regular services of some other express trains between Mariani and Guwahati are also operational,” the NFR official added. (Source: PTI)    

REGIONAL

10 killed in Sikkim tunnel collapse, rescue operation underway

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GANGTOK : Ten people were killed after a tunnel under construction collapsed due to a landslide in Sikkim’s Namchi district a day ago, police said on Tuesday. The number of victims could go up as search and rescue operations were underway, a Namchi district official said. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said the tunnel of NHPC Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project at Samardung in Jholungey caved in due to a landslide. A total of 25 people, including project officials and workers, were trapped inside the ADIT-3 tunnel when it suddenly collapsed on Monday, he said. The CM said Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with him and enquired about the rescue operations. “Ten bodies have been recovered till 9.30 am on Tuesday. Seven of the deceased have been identified, while three unidentified bodies were sent to the District Hospital Singtam and STNM Hospital,” the Namchi police said in a statement. Of the seven identified deceased, four were from West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri, one each from Assam, Punjab and Uttarakhand’s Dehradun, and one was a resident of Namchi, it said. “My heartfelt condolences go to the families of the workers, who have lost their lives. In this hour of grief, the thoughts and prayers of the entire state are with the bereaved families, and we stand firmly by them during this difficult time,” Tamang said in a statement. The chief minister said he was closely monitoring the ongoing rescue operation. The teams of the Namchi district administration, Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), Sikkim Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Pakyong and Siliguri, along with other specialised agencies, were working tirelessly to recover the bodies of the remaining workers trapped inside the tunnel, Tamang said. “Following the tragic incident at the under-construction tunnel of the NHPC Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project at Samardung, Jholungey, in Namchi District, Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with me to enquire about the situation and the ongoing rescue operations,” the chief minister said on X. Tamang also said, “His (PM) words of concern and compassion for the affected workers and their families, along with his assurance of every possible assistance from the Government of India, have provided immense strength and reassurance to the people of Sikkim during this difficult hour.” The chief minister said he has directed the authorities to provide every possible assistance, expedite the rescue efforts, and ensure that the highest standards of safety are strictly maintained throughout the operation. On Monday, the district officials had said around 27 workers were trapped inside the tunnel under construction after a landslide blocked its entrance and triggered a suspected gas leak in the afternoon. The rescue operation had been complicated by the presence of gas inside the tunnel, with several personnel experiencing dizziness and losing consciousness while attempting to reach the trapped workers, they said. The gas is believed to be naturally emanating from underground strata or rock formations disturbed by the landslide, they said. (Source: PTI)    

National, REGIONAL

Assam NRC: SC notice to Centre, others on plea to initiate appeal process

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NEW DELHI : The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Centre and others on a plea seeking a direction to authorities to initiate an appeal process for those excluded from the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) published in Assam. The plea filed by the Assam State Jamiat Ulama came up for hearing before a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi. The petitioner’s counsel argued that people were suffering. “For those who have been excluded, there is a provision for appeal but nothing is happening,” he said, adding that a separate petition raising a similar issue was already pending before the apex court. “Issue notice,” the bench said and tagged the plea with the pending petition. The top court has sought responses from the Centre and others, including the Assam government and the office of the state coordinator. The updated final NRC, which validates bonafide Indian citizens of Assam, was released on August 31, 2019. The exercise shut out the citizenship claims of over 19 lakh applicants. A total of 3,30,27,661 (3.3 crore) people had applied to be included in the NRC. Of them, 3,11,21,004 (3.1 crore) were included in the document and 19,06,657 (19.06 lakh) excluded, a statement from the NRC State Coordinators office said. In its plea, the Assam State Jamiat Ulama sought a direction to the concerned authorities to forthwith issue national identity cards under Section 14A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 read with Rule 13 of the 2003 Rules to all persons found included in the final NRC published in Assam. It has also sought a direction to authorities to initiate an appeal process for the persons excluded from final NRC published in Assam. (Source: PTI)    

REGIONAL

Waterfall in Meghalaya named after Deputy CM Sniawbhalang Dhar

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JOWAI : A waterfall in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills district has been named after Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar. It was christened ‘Sniawbhalang Dhar Waterfalls’ during a programme at Amtharonh Pdeng Thangchap in the Amlarem subdivision on Sunday, with Dhar laying the foundation stone for a tourism project. According to the organisers, the site was donated by Raid Buam in recognition of the deputy chief minister’s role in resolving issues related to the management of the Krangshuri tourist spot and for his contributions to the development of the area. Raid Buam, a traditional administrative territory and community managing natural resources, also felicitated Dhar during the programme. The development comes nearly six years after the inauguration of the ‘Sanbor Shullai Road’ in Shillong, the first road in Meghalaya to be named after a sitting legislator. During the programme, Dhar also laid the foundation stone for an afforestation initiative under the Regeneration Meghalaya Project, under which 20 lakh saplings will be planted in the Raid Buam forest. Addressing the gathering, the deputy chief minister said he would revisit the area to expedite tourism development projects. He said the state government has promoted around 5,000 homestays, besides hotels, to strengthen Meghalaya’s tourism sector, adding that the state is steadily emerging as a preferred travel destination. Deputy Commissioner Abhinav Kumar Singh, SP Jagpal Singh Dhanoa, Amlarem SDO Vevotolu Kezo, and Raid Buam office-bearers attended the programme. (Source: PTI)    

REGIONAL

Tripura DGP’s body flown to Delhi, final rites to be conducted at native village in UP

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AGARTALA : The body of Tripura DGP Anurag Dhankar, who was found hanging in his washroom in the police headquarters here a day before, was flown to Delhi by an air ambulance on Tuesday, an official said. His last rites are scheduled to take place in his native village of Baraut in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. Tripura Governor N Indrasena Reddy, Chief Minister Manik Saha, Chief Secretary J K Sinha and senior officials offered floral tributes to the mortal remains of the DGP at the Civil Secretariat here. The decorated IPS officer was also accorded a gun salute at the police headquarters. Speaking to reporters, the chief minister said a case of unnatural death has been registered and an investigation is underway. “We will investigate the case as per law,” he said. However, the chief minister refused to make any comment on the opposition’s demand for a probe under the supervision of the chief justice of the Tripura High Court. Saha described Dhankar’s death as an irreparable loss not only for his family but also for the northeastern state. “I am speechless. The loss is irreparable not only for his family but also for our state… We used to have cordial talks. Under his leadership, law and order had improved significantly,” he said. “After attending the passing out parade of police constables at R K Nagar Police Training Institute in West Tripura on July 18, we had tea together. His wife also joined us. We had a cordial discussion but never thought this would be my last meeting with the DGP,” the CM said. DIG, Range, Ratiranjan Dhar said Dhankar’s body was flown to Delhi by an air ambulance and from the national capital, it would be taken to his native place for last rites. Officiating DGP G S Rao said a three-member team headed by Inspector General (IG), Law and Order, Manchak Ipper escorted the mortal remains of the DGP. Opposition parties CPI(M) and the Congress demanded an impartial probe into the circumstances leading to the death of the police officer, who served the northeastern state for around 18 years in various positions. The 1994-batch IPS officer, who led the CBI probe into the Rs 13,000 crore PNB fraud case involving Nirav Modi and the reinvestigation of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, was 60, and is survived by his wife and son, who lives in Canada. Dhankar, who was elevated to the post of DGP from Additional DGP in May 2025, was due to retire in 11 months. As a mark of respect to the departed soul, the state observed a day-long mourning on Tuesday. (Source: PTI)    

Editorial

Skyroot’s moment, ISRO’s test

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On July 18, a rocket that owed nothing to the Indian Space Research Organisation raced through the sky over Sriharikota and did what no Indian company had ever done: it reached orbit. Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1, flying under the mission name Aagaman — Sanskrit for “arrival” — made India only the third country after the United States and China to host a privately built orbital launch vehicle. It is a genuine milestone. It also lands amid the loudest talent crisis ISRO has faced in years, and the timing is not a coincidence. The scale of Saturday’s achievement is easy to understate. For six decades, reaching orbit from Indian soil has meant one thing: ISRO. Vikram-1 breaks that monopoly, built by a company founded only eight years ago by two former ISRO engineers who started with a team of ten in Hyderabad and first touched space with a smaller suborbital rocket back in 2022. That the rocket flew customer payloads on its very first attempt, rather than merely proving instruments, suggests Skyroot is not just demonstrating a capability but opening for business. That matters because it validates a bet New Delhi placed in 2020, when it opened spaceflight to private capital after decades of treating it as an exclusively sovereign function. The reasoning was that ISRO, superb at frugal science missions, was never built to chase the fast-growing small-satellite launch market. Vikram-1 is the first hard proof that reasoning held: India can now offer commercial customers a private alternative to the PSLV and GSLV, edging toward the model in which NASA shares American skies with SpaceX and Rocket Lab rather than flying every mission itself. But the same fortnight that proved the private-space bet also exposed its price. More than a hundred ISRO scientists have resigned or taken voluntary retirement in recent months — enough that the Department of Space, just four days before Vikram-1 lifted off, moved to block routine exits of scientists working on Gaganyaan and other flagship missions. The pull is not mysterious: start-ups founded largely by ISRO alumni offer two to three times government pay, equity, flat hierarchies, and freedom from layered bureaucracy. Those leaving are not junior hires; many carry specialised experience from missions such as Chandrayaan-3 and SpaDeX, and they are exiting a public agency already facing missed deadlines on some of its own flagship launches — for a private sector that, not incidentally, just launched India’s first private orbital rocket. Optimists call this redistribution rather than drain, likening it to how engineers cycle between NASA and SpaceX in a maturing market. That comparison could prove right — but only if India’s space ecosystem grows large enough to absorb the churn, keeping ISRO staffed for the missions only a state agency can run even as it keeps seeding the companies extending India’s reach commercially. Vikram-1 shows what that ecosystem is capable of when it works. Whether ISRO stays intact enough to keep supplying it, mission after mission, decade after decade, is now the harder question hanging over India’s space programme. (Source: The Pioneer)

Latest News, Popular News, State News

Youths organise protest rally in Itanagar in support of Wangchuk

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ITANAGAR : Thousands of youths on Monday organised a protest rally here in support of activist Sonam Wangchuk and demanded stringent action against alleged examination paper leak scams, calling for greater transparency and accountability in the country’s competitive examination system. Organised by a youth group, the rally began at Akashdeep, a prominent commercial complex, and concluded at IG Park nearly 2 km away, with participants carrying placards and raising slogans in support of Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past two weeks along with members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The protesters alleged that repeated incidents of leaked examination papers have undermined the credibility of competitive tests and eroded the confidence of students and job aspirants who spend years preparing for them. Wangchuk and the CJP have been demanding action against those responsible for alleged examination paper leak cases across the country, with particular focus on the NEET paper leak controversy. They have also sought greater accountability in the education system and called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. As the procession moved through the state capital, participants urged the authorities to ensure free, fair and transparent examinations, saying merit should not be compromised by corruption or malpractice. Speakers at the gathering said the issue has a direct bearing on the future of millions of students and stressed the need for reforms to restore public confidence in the examination system. The rally concluded peacefully at IG Park, where the protesters reaffirmed their support for Wangchuk’s campaign and vowed to continue their agitation until concrete measures are taken to strengthen the integrity of competitive examinations. Wangchuk joined CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke’s protest and sat on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on June 28. He was forcibly taken to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday by the Delhi Police on the 21st day of his fast. (Source: PTI)      

Latest News, Popular News, State News

Arunachal Cong unit backs nationwide campaign against paper leaks

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ITANAGAR : Arunachal Pradesh’s Congress unit on Monday backed the nationwide ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign against examination paper leaks, accusing the Centre of jeopardising the future of students and youths across the country. In a statement, Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) spokesperson Johny Yangfo alleged that repeated examination paper leaks had created uncertainty among students and questioned the Centre’s handling of the education system. He claimed that the issue had affected the future of lakhs of aspirants and called for urgent reforms to restore confidence in the examination process. The Congress leader said the party’s nationwide campaign, led by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, aimed to reach out to students and highlight their concerns. Yangfo said the campaign sought to raise awareness about issues affecting the country’s youth and press for greater accountability. Alleging that the government had failed to address recurring paper leaks, Yangfo said students continued to suffer due to lapses in the examination system. He also criticised the Union education ministry, claiming that such incidents would continue unless corrective measures were taken. The leader further referred to the detention of activist Sonam Wangchuk and accused the government of suppressing dissent instead of responding to public concerns. He claimed that protests against the alleged failures of the government had drawn widespread attention both within the country and abroad. Expressing concern over reports of students allegedly taking the extreme step following examination-related issues, he urged the government to listen to the voices of the youth and take concrete action to safeguard their future. Yangfo said thousands of youths in Arunachal Pradesh had joined the campaign and voiced their support for the nationwide movement. The APCC, under the leadership of its president Bosiram Siram, would continue to stand with students and raise the issue until their concerns were addressed, he added. (Source: PTI)      

Latest News, Popular News, State News

Sonam Wangchuk to continue fast, cites police action against CJP protesters

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NEW DELHI : Activist Sonam Wangchuk announced on Monday that he would continue his indefinite hunger strike, saying the police action against protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) “Sansad Chalo” march has prompted him to extend the fast until youth leaders are allowed to meet parliamentarians or he is permitted to do so from the hospital. In a handwritten statement issued from the Safdarjung Hospital, Wangchuk said, “Seeing the brutality with which peacefully protesting youth are being dealt with, I have decided to continue my fast until the youth leaders are allowed to meet the parliamentarians at the Sansad Bhawan or I am allowed to meet them here at the hospital.” “Hopefully, the government will fix accountability for the Education Minister before that,” he added. Wangchuk said he is “touched and moved” by the manner in which the protesters have maintained peace despite “provocation”. “I appeal to the government and the police force to resolve the issue by simply allowing the students to present their grievances before Parliament today or tomorrow. I am sure the young protesters will maintain peace tomorrow as they did today,” he said. The Delhi Police prevented the CJP’s proposed march to Parliament, barricading roads around Jantar Mantar and detaining several protesters as thousands gathered despite heavy rain. Earlier in the day, Wangchuk had said he would end his fast only if the government accepts accountability for alleged failures in the education system or if political leaders assure him that the issue would be raised during the Monsoon session of Parliament. However, following the developments during the march, he announced that he would continue the fast. Wangchuk has been at the Safdarjung Hospital since July 18 after he was forcibly shifted there by the Delhi Police following 21 days of fasting. The supporters of the activist have alleged that he is being kept under “illegal detention”, a charge rejected by authorities. The CJP is demanding accountability for alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. (Source: PTI)      

Latest News, Popular News, State News

Arunachal eyes library revamp, Amar Chitra Katha partnership to inspire young readers

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ITANAGAR : Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona on Monday reviewed key initiatives aimed at strengthening the state’s library network and promoting the stories of Arunachal Pradesh’s unsung heroes through an innovative partnership with Amar Chitra Katha. Chairing a review meeting of the Department of Libraries, Sona deliberated on measures to modernize the library ecosystem and make public libraries more relevant to the needs of today’s learners. The meeting focused on introducing the Book Cafe concept to encourage a stronger reading culture among students and youth, while transforming libraries into modern learning centres equipped with digital resources and collaborative spaces. The minister also reviewed the feasibility of upgrading Circle Libraries into District Libraries wherever required and directed the department to conduct a comprehensive gap analysis covering infrastructure, staffing and operational requirements. Emphasizing the importance of libraries, Sona said they must evolve into vibrant centres of knowledge and lifelong learning. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating accessible, future-ready library spaces that inspire learning and innovation across Arunachal Pradesh. Earlier in the day, the minister also held a meeting with officials of the Department of Public Libraries and representatives of Amar Chitra Katha to explore a collaborative initiative for preserving and promoting the stories of the state’s unsung heroes. The discussions centred on developing engaging comic books and 2D animated educational content based on the documented lives of Arunachal Pradesh’s unsung heroes, making their stories more accessible and inspiring for young readers. The proposed publications are planned as supplementary reading material for students of Classes VI to X and will be published in English, Hindi and selected tribal languages to ensure wider outreach across the state. Sona interacted with Deepesh Kothari, Vice President, and Rajesh K V, Deputy Head – Brand Stories, of Amar Chitra Katha to explore avenues for the collaboration. The Department of Public Libraries will coordinate the publication and dissemination of these learning resources across the state. Stating that the state’s heroes deserve to be remembered and celebrated, the minister expressed confidence that the initiative would instil pride in Arunachal Pradesh’s rich history, strengthen reading habits among students, and inspire future generations through the remarkable stories of its people. (Source: UNI; Photo: Facebook-PD Sona)