Assam Tourism pandal shined under the banner of FASS (Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters) at Gymkhana Club Cricket ground Hounslow in London on August 15 on the occasion of India's 63rd Independence Day celebration with enthusiasm and fanfare. His Excellency : Mr. Nalin Surie, High Commissioner for India hoisted the Tricolour which was followed by the singing of the Indian national anthem. The address to the by President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil was also broadcast before the flag hoisting. More than 40 Indian diaspora committee representing different regions including North-Eastern states of Assam were focussed on the celebration. Depicting the confidence and ambitions of the Indian diaspora and the rich heritage of the country, India is united once again regardless of its caste, creed and religion.
For the first time Assam set up a colourful marki (stall) along with Air-India, pictures of costumes of seven states, jewellery of hills and tribes of Assam, tea garden, tea packets, japi, sarai, gamoscha were displayed at the stall. Assam stall was introduced by Rini Kakati and were visited by Sir Gulam Noon, Gurinder Chadha (Director of Bend it like Beckham & Bride and Prejudice),Indian Overseas Congress President and Ila Arun,popular TV personality and a Rajasthani folk-pop singer who appreciated Asomiya ladies wearing Mekhela Chadar.
We are trying to build a new Assam in which every Assamese would have a stake, an Assam which would be prosperous and in which all citizens would be able to live a life of honour and dignity. Despite many problems the rate of our economic growth has been improving than most other states in India with our natural resources. Hundreds of tourist including many from the West gathered at this august gathering. The book was signed by visitors hoping to see a bit more of Assam in 2011.
"I have read about Assam and heard a lot about this marvel from my friends who have been to Kaziranga on numerous occasions. Next time, I will be surely visiting Assam to enjoy its scenic beauty." said Jim Cook a tour operator from a British tour company.
In yet another tragic incident, the children met watery grave and five persons went missing after a boat manned by National Disaster Response Force personnel on a rescue mission to help flood-stranded people capsized at Makum in Tinsukia district on Sunday.
According to reports, there were around 15 people in the boat, including Army and NDRF personnel when it capsized at around 4 in the afternoon in Barekuri area of Makum in the flood waters. An operation has been launched to search for the five missing persons.
Schools and colleges in Majuli have been closed indefinitely from Monday. The decision was taken in view of rising flood waters which have submerged over 70 per cent landmass of the river island. The district administration issued the ordered on Sunday afternoon. A nine-member SDRF team has been airlifted to the island to help rescue stranded people in the affected areas.
The United Liberation Font of Asom’s anti-talk faction on Sunday comes down heavily on BJP and its youth wing alleging that the proposed procession in Arunachal Pradesh would only provoke China. In an e-mail statement, the anti-talk faction of the outfit said that the proposed mid-October procession along Indo-China border would only provoke the neighbor. It further asked BJP’s youth wing not to make the people of Assam a scapegoat. Notably, BJP’s youth wing is gearing up to take out a procession in Arunachal Pradesh to offer tribute to the 1962 heroes.
The Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park have been reeling under floods and there is no hope of an immediate relief. Alert has been sounded in the Kaziranga National Park. At least 15 anti-poaching camps of Kaziranga have been submerged, forcing the security staff to shift to boats in order to keep an eye on poachers. The mighty Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level mark in Dibrugarh, Nimatighat, Dhemaji, Tezpur and Dhansirimukh in Kaziranga.
Dispur has deployed at least 16 teams of the National Disaster Response Force, 60 army teams and 18 teams of the State Disaster Response Force in relief and rescue efforts in worst flood affected districts. IAF has deployed four helicopters in the Sadia subdivision in Tinsukia district to air drop necessary food items and rescue marooned people. Ferry services have also been stopped at Sadia and Majuli in Jorhat district as the Brahmaputra river is over flowing. Several villages have been submerged in Sadia and Majuli.
The flood situation turns grim with over 800,000 people affected in at least 15 districts. According to information, seven people died during the past one week where over 700 villages have also been submerged in the affected areas. The worst-hit districts are Kamrup, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Sonitpur.
The devastating flood waters are posing serious threat to Guwahati where parts of the premier north eastern city have come under the surging waters of the Brahmaputra. Surging waters of the mighty river have spilled into Pandu where over 1000 houses have been inundated on Saturday midnight. Some more areas are feared to have been submerged in the city. If the water level of the mighty river continues to rise, then fancy bazaar, Lakhtakia, Maligaon and Panbazar would be submerged within the next 24 hours.
The Assam government deploys evacuation tram in the flood hit areas and announced relief measures. But those displaced have not yet received anything. Talking to assamtimes, affected people in Dhemaji and Majuli said that the relief measures are confined to som selected pockets. Thousands of people in he remote areas are still remaining trapped without any help.
The fourth flood wave continue to wreak havoc displacing nearly 5 lakh people during the last five days. The Brahmaputra and its tributaries are overflowing following the incessant rains in ArunachalPradesh. Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark and more than seven lakh people are said to be affected in the heavy and incessant rainfall over the past few days. Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Nagaon, Kamrup and Barpeta are worst-hit where surface communication remains heavily disrupted. Flood waters are posing serious threat to Majuli along with Kaziranga, Manah and Dibru saikhowa.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has strongly denied sending Koyu with money meant for AICC fund. In a statement, Tuki said that his name was unnecessarily dragged into the controversy. “I never asked any Koyu to send any money to party high command. Congress party doesn't transfer money like this”, he said. Meanwhile, Koyu who happens to be the president of All Arunachal Contractors Welfare Society has filed an FIR against Joshi. Papum Pare SP Hibu Tamang said that the Rs.1 crore has got nothing to do with the Congress party or the chief minister.
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