The Union Cabinet has approved the doubling of the rail line between Furkating and New Tinsukia, with an investment of Rs 3,634 crore, aimed at enhancing connectivity in Assam.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the doubling of the 194-km Furkating–New Tinsukia railway line in Assam at a cost of ₹3,634 crore, as part of a wider infrastructure package covering four key railway projects worth ₹12,328 crore. The project, to be undertaken by the Northeast Frontier Railway, is expected to decongest the vital Upper Assam corridor, enabling faster and more reliable passenger and freight movement, including Rajdhani Express services. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the decision, noting it would “aid in faster development of the region.” Alongside, projects benefitting Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, and Gujarat have also been cleared, underscoring the Centre’s focus on enhancing connectivity and logistics capacity across the country.

The Bhogeswar Baruah National Sports Award Trophy is unveiled by the Assam Olympic Association.

In a landmark tribute to Assam’s sporting heritage, the Assam Olympic Association (AOA) has unveiled the Bhogeswar Baruah National Sports Award Trophy, named after the state’s first Asian Games gold medallist and Arjuna awardee. The award, to be presented annually beginning September 3, 2025—Baruah’s birthday—will honour excellence across six categories, including marquee titles such as Best Sportsperson of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, and Emerging Sportsperson of the Year. The inaugural ceremony in Guwahati will see participation from international athletes, with P.T. Usha among the chief guests. As part of the initiative, the iconic Sarusajai Stadium will be renamed after Baruah, cementing his legacy as an enduring source of inspiration for future generations of athletes.

Due to an illicit SIM card scheme, the CBI arrests the Airtel sales manager and two other individuals in Assam.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Airtel territory sales manager Debashish Doley and two associates in Assam for their alleged role in the illegal sale of SIM cards to cybercrime networks. The accused were nabbed after raids across Cachar district, where investigators found that they had supplied so-called “ghost SIMs”—unauthorised connections obtained using genuine customer credentials—to fraud syndicates. These SIMs were later used in scams including digital arrest frauds, mule bank accounts, and money laundering. The arrests mark a continuation of the CBI’s nationwide crackdown on telecom-linked cybercrime, which earlier exposed over 1,100 ghost SIMs routed to Southeast Asian networks. Authorities seized mobiles, electronic gadgets, and KYC documents during the raids, underscoring what officials called the government’s resolve to disrupt the infrastructure powering cybercrime.

According to IMD, Guwahati will have a lot of rain during the next 24 hours.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning over Guwahati in the next 24 hours. Rainfall may reach up to 6 cm in 24 hours, with short intense spells of 2–3 cm per hour, raising the risk of waterlogging, traffic disruption, and localized landslides. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority has advised residents—especially those in low-lying and hillside areas—to stay vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow official advisories for safety.

Human rights commission to look into infant’s death at GMCH demanded by Assam LoP.

Assam Assembly Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia has appealed to the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) to take suo motu cognisance of the death of a four-day-old newborn at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). The infant, admitted for infection and jaundice, was found dead on August 18 in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), entangled in the wires of medical equipment. Saikia described the incident as a “blatant violation of fundamental human rights” and cited overcrowding, staff shortages, and lapses in duty of care as causes.

In his letter to the AHRC, Saikia urged an inquiry under Section 21(5) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, and called for a committee of independent experts to investigate systemic failures in Assam’s public healthcare. He demanded accountability from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Health Department for alleged lapses and insensitive statements. Saikia also sought interim compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the bereaved family and protection for the parents, highlighting the recurring problem of medical negligence in state hospitals.

Meanwhile, a nurse on duty during the incident has been arrested for negligence, and the Assam government has formed a three-member committee to investigate. Chief Minister Sarma has assured strict action against those found responsible while affirming that the GMCH principal will not be transferred. The inquiry is ongoing, with a report expected shortly.

51 alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators are pushed back by Assam from the Sribhumi border.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that 51 suspected Bangladeshi nationals were detained near the international border in Sribhumi between August 24 and 26 and subsequently pushed back into Bangladesh. Of these, 30 were caught on August 24 and 21 on August 26. Sarma highlighted the operations in posts on X, reiterating his government’s resolve to continue anti-infiltration drives “unabated.”

Separately, Assam Police intercepted six more Bangladeshi nationals—including two children—in South Salmara Mankachar district on August 24. Police said the group had traveled from Jammu and Kashmir via Guwahati and intended to cross the border illegally, but were intercepted before succeeding.

According to officials, the groups included women and children and were sent back with Border Security Force assistance. Sarma has maintained that illegal infiltration remains a serious challenge, with some infiltrators already residing in Assam using forged documents. As part of the state’s tighter measures, the government has put Aadhaar enrolment on hold for adults above 18 years to prevent misuse by undocumented entrants.

A guy from Guwahati was arrested for defrauding the Arunachal BSNL tower project of Rs 52 lakh.

A Guwahati-based businessman has been arrested for allegedly duping contractors of over ₹52 lakh in a BSNL tower construction project in Arunachal Pradesh, police said on Wednesday. The 41-year-old accused, who had evaded arrest for nearly a year, was caught in Guwahati in a joint operation by Arunachal and Assam police.

According to West Siang SP Kardak Riba, the man secured sub-contracts for building BSNL mobile towers in Aalo and other areas, but withheld payments to local contractors after collecting the full amount from the primary contractor. Following the completion of civil works for seven towers, he went incommunicado, switched off his phone, and absconded.

Police termed the August 25 arrest a major breakthrough, hinting at a larger network of fraud in government-linked projects. Similar complaints have emerged from Papum Pare, Daporijo, and other districts. A case has been registered under sections of cheating and criminal conspiracy, with investigations aimed at tracking down the accused’s associates and mapping the full scope of the racket.

Under the new SOP, land transactions among various faiths in Assam will be closely examined.

The Assam government has rolled out a Special Operating Procedure (SOP) to regulate land transfers between individuals of different religions, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday. Cleared by the state cabinet, the SOP requires the Assam Police Special Branch to vet such transactions, examining issues like fraudulent practices, funding sources, the impact on local social dynamics, and national security implications before approval is granted.

Sharma clarified that the procedure will not apply to transactions between people of the same religion, but will be mandatory for interfaith transfers and for land purchases by NGOs from outside Assam seeking to establish educational or healthcare institutions. Stressing caution, he said, “In a sensitive state like Assam, land-related matters must be addressed with utmost care.”

Assam LoP requests a human rights investigation following the GMCH infant death.

Leader of the Opposition in Assam, Debabrata Saikia, has written to the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) urging an independent inquiry into the death of a newborn at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on August 18. The four‑day‑old infant, admitted to the NICU for treatment of jaundice and infection, was found dead entangled in medical wires. Saikia alleged that overcrowding, staff shortages, and negligence led to the tragedy, terming it a “gross violation of fundamental human rights.”

He requested the AHRC to take suo motu cognisance under Section 21(5) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, and demanded a time‑bound probe by an expert panel. The Congress leader also sought accountability from the state government, interim compensation of ₹10 lakh under the Assam Victim Compensation Scheme, 2012, and protection for the grieving parents. Citing repeated lapses in public hospitals, Saikia pressed for urgent reforms, calling the incident a stark reminder of systemic failures in Assam’s healthcare infrastructure.

Assam’s craft sector gains momentum as Barpeta holds a RAMP workshop on accessing international markets.

The handloom and handicraft sector in Barpeta received a major boost with a day-long technical workshop organised under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme on Wednesday. Bringing together nearly 250 artisans, craftsmen, and entrepreneurs, the event focused on skill development, branding, and digital commerce adoption to enhance global competitiveness of Assamese crafts. Supported by DICC Barpeta, ASIDC, and NEHHDC, the workshop featured sessions on product design, packaging, ODOP/ GI tagging, and access to e-commerce platforms like ONDC, GeM, Amazon, and Flipkart. Experts also guided participants on financial literacy, SHG funding, and export opportunities. Officials emphasised that the initiative, aligned with the “Make in Assam” vision, would help local crafts establish a strong presence in national and international markets. The programme concluded with a product exhibition, certificate distribution, and a call to leverage RAMP for scaling up Barpeta’s traditional industries.