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Online Chess Tournament starts for Northeast states

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Online Chess Tournament starts for Northeast states

Sikkim: Online Chess Tournament starts for all Northeast states

May 30, 2020: An online chess tournament starts for people belonging to all the eight Northeast states on Wednesday organised by the Sports and Youth Affair Department,  Government of Sikkim in collaboration with Sikkim Chess Association.

The tournament was inaugurated by KN Lepcha, the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Government of Sikkim in the presence of Sports Secretary Kuber Bhandari, and General Secretary Sikkim Chess Association, Deputy Director, Sports Department, Zigmee Y. Lepcha in Gangtok.

“As you know all of us are passing through a monotonous life because of lockdown imposed by the government because it is much essential that such lockdown needs to be imposed in the sense that we have to keep ourselves safe but during this lockdown period what we have experienced that people have locked themselves up in their houses so life has become monotonous automatically. It is just an initiative by the Sports and Youth Affairs Department of Sikkim to start some entertainment sort of thing…sort of a competition among the….yet not among the states and as you know all other games need to have a personal body contact but this is one game we can play online. So, this is an initiative we have taken. ” KN Lepcha mentioned.

This initiative has been taken mainly to break the monotony which has been overcoming people’s lives during this period of lockdown and as an effort to boost the friendship of all the North-Eastern states.

“Number one, to break the monotony which is prevailing because of the lockdown. Secondly, it is to also foster friendship because there are about 160 participants from all the areas of North East participating in it,”  he said.

Sports and Youth Affairs minister Lepcha also took to the occasion to congratulate the sports department for coming up with such an idea.

All eight North East States have registered their participation in the tournament and more than 160 chess players are taking part in it.

Former World champion Vishwanathan Anand had also sent his well-wishing message for the tournament.

“Very, fortunately, when we launched this, we had this message from none other than the world champion, Grandmaster Sir Viswanathan Anand.”  the sports minister mentioned.

Passengers on special train give away food to flood-affected people in Assam

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Passengers on special train give away food to flood-affected people in Assam

Mizoram: Passengers on the special train give away food to flood-affected people in Assam

May 30, 2020: On their way back to Mizoram, passengers on the special train give away whatever little food they had for themselves to people affected by the flood in Assam.

The train was returning from Bangalore with stranded Mizos on board.

A video of the passengers tossing packets of biscuits and other food items surfaced and has gone viral thereafter. So much so that Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga could not keep from sharing the video on his Twitter handle.

Tweeting a video he wrote, “The following viral WhatsApp video is all about stranded Mizos on their way from Bangalore sharing their eatables along the railway track for flood-affected people on their way to #Mizoram and, it just made my day!

Romans 13:8

Owe no man anything, but to love one another. #Love”

The Assam floods due to increase in water levels of the Brahmaputra have affected thousands in Assam. Many are rendered without a home due to the severe floods.

Such an incident where people can be seen empathising with other people in distress by doing whatever little they are equipped to do is indeed a scene to cherish. Humanity still exists!

Assam flood death toll increases to five

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Assam flood death toll increases to five

Over 3.81 lakh people affected in Assam flood, death toll rises to five:

Guwahati, May 29: On Friday, two people drowned in the flood in Assam, Goalpara and Hojai district, and the death toll has now increased to five.

On Friday, two people were drowned in floodwaters in Goalpara and Hojai district and the death toll has increased to five.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), one each person drowned in floodwaters at Lakhipur area in Goalpara district and Doboka area in Hojai district.

Over 3.81 lakh people of 356 villages in 11 revenue circles in Nalbari, Goalpara, Nagaon, Hojai, West Karbi Anglong, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts have been affected in the first spate of floods in the state.

Assam flood death toll

Over 1.96 lakh have affected alone in Goalpara district while 94,400 people affected in Hojai district, 74,800 people in Nagaon district, 6600 people in West Karbi Anglong district, 5200 people in Nalbari district.

Nearly 22,000 people have taken shelter at 190 relief camps set by the administration in the flood-affected districts.

On the other hand, the floodwaters have submerged 24,755 hectares crop areas and nearly 74,000 domestic animals and 51,000 poultry affected in the current flood.

The NDRF, SDRF teams are engaged in rescue operations and on Friday the teams had rescued 3880 flood-affected persons from Hojai and Goalpara district.

Assam CM visits flood-hit Goalpara district:

Assam CM visits flood-hit Goalpara district

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday visited flood-hit Goalpara district and took stock the situation.

He said that the state government would deal with the prevailing flood situation in pursuance of the new relief manual which would strengthen state government’s efforts to give relief and respite to the flood victims as well as fighting with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sonowal said that given the prevailing flood which has affected as many as 11 districts, the state government would reach out to the flood-affected people with the new relief manual which would also help the state government to battle against Coronavirus pandemic.

The Assam Chief Minister visited temporary relief camps set up at Agia Balijana Girls High School and Dwarka Primary School and interacted with the camp inmates there.

He directed the Deputy Commissioner to provide adequate and good quality facilities like food, drinking water and medical help.

“Doctors should be visiting the relief centres and provide medical attention to the inmates present there. Given the COVID-19 pandemic wherein social distancing is regarded as the golden deterrent to keep the virus at bay, the district administration should ensure strict adherence to the social distancing norms in the relief camps,” Sonowal said.

He however hailed the facilities made available in the relief camps including adherence of social distancing norms in the camps.

Assam CM visits flood-hit Goalpara district

Sonowal also visited integrated child development project office and took stock of the facilities put up for the children who are staying at the relief camps and talked to the ASHA workers and lauded their relentless services that they are rendering when the State is going through challenges like flood and erosion and Coronavirus pandemic.

Sonowal also visited the Agia-Lakhipur State Highway-12, a portion of which was completely washed away by the flood. He took stock of the extent of damage and asked the concerned officials to restore communication through that portion on a war-footing and repair the bridge part.

The Assam Chief Minister also visited a quarantine centre set up at Ayurvedic Hospital, Dudhnoi during his visit to the district.

Moreover, the Assam Chief Minister also handed over cheques amounting to Rs 4 lakh each to the next of the kin of the four deceased who lost their lives during the flood.

Assam flood condition 2020
Hojai: Villagers rowing a makeshift raft past submerged houses at a flood-affected village in Hojai District 

Sonowal urged upon the Deputy Commissioner and other functionaries to work in such a way so that Goalpara can set a model in the fight against flood and novel Coronavirus.

He asked the power department to foresee any danger and work accordingly to avert electrocuted death during flood.

Sonowal directed all officials to work relentlessly so that the fruits of governance can reach to all sections of the people equally and to ensure that the prevailing situation does not create inequality and exclusion among the people.

“In this extraordinary situation when the State is bearing the brunt of the flood as well as COVID-19 pandemic, everybody should work as a team and help the people to get rid of this situation. In the absence of an antidote to fight against Coronavirus, social distancing is the only means through which human lives can be saved and appealed to the media persons to generate awareness so that people adhere to social distancing norms in the fight against novel Coronavirus,” Sonowal said.

Flood situation in Assam worsens

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Flood situation in Assam worsens

Flood situation worsens in Assam, Hojai-West Karbi Anglong district, 1.02 lakh people of effect:

Guwahati, May 30: The flood situation in Assam worsens and is continued to remain grim as nearly 4 lakh people of seven districts have been affected.

In central Assam’s Hojai and West Karbi Anglong district, nearly 1.02 lakh people of 110 villages under three revenue circles have been affected in the first wave of floods.

The floodwaters of Kopili, Borpani river have submerged 90 villages in Hojai district and 20 villages in West Karbi Anglong district.

Thousands of families in Hojai and West Karbi Anglong districts were forced to leave their homes after floodwaters entered their homes and they are now taking shelter on roads, railway lines and relief camps.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), nearly 95,000 people have been affected in Hojai district while 20,000 people in West Karbi Anglong district.

The floodwaters submerged 7700 hectares croplands in both district.

The authorities said that, nearly 5300 flood-affected people have taken shelter at 120 relief camps in Hojai district set by the administration.

58-year-old Anumai Bora said that she and her family left their homes and taken shelter on the road after the floodwaters submerged their homes.

“We are facing various problems. Our home is now underwater and we were forced to take shelter on roads,” Animal Bora said.

On the other hand, one person drowned in flood water at Doboka area in Hojai district on Friday.

Portions of several roads, embankments were washed away by the floodwaters and also damaged many roads, bridges in Hojai district.

Super speciality COVID-19 hospital inaugurated in Guwahati

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Super speciality COVID-19 hospital inaugurated in Guwahati

New 236-bed super speciality COVID-19 hospital inaugurated in Guwahati:

Guwahati, May 29: Assam on Friday opened a 236-bed super speciality COVID-19 hospital in Guwahati as the surge in number of COVID-19 positive cases in the state continuing unabated.

The state has registered 910 positive cases for the novel Coronavirus so far.

The new centrally air-conditioned COVID-19 hospital has been built in the premise of Guwahati Medical College Hospital with an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore.

Assam Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday had inaugurated the super speciality hospital that shall be used as a dedicated COVID-19 treatment facility until the crisis is averted.

The new COVID-19 hospital has 186 beds in various wards and 50 other beds in Intensive Care Units (ICUs).

super speciality COVID-19 hospital in Guwahati
236-bed super speciality COVID-19 hospital

It has been equipped with 14 Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UGVI) System, which will help in improving indoor air quality and bacteria management and each bed has a dedicated supply of medical gas.

Himanta Biswa Sarma said that – “The opening of the hospital is a milestone of the state’s health sector and it will strengthen our efforts to fight against COVID-19.”

“In the entire state, our health system is in a very confidence state of affairs. We have kept ready 5000 beds for the COVID-19 patients. There is no need to panic. Out of these, 500-600 will be dedicated for symptomatic treatment. We will be able to treat 5000 patients spreading across Assam. Things are moving in the right direction. We are in a position to treat 5000 patients at a time,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

On the other hand, the Assam minister said that the state government will continue the night curfew and the Assam government will follow the directions what the centre will give.

“We want night curfew to continue and rest of the thing I think, we should come back to normal life. But night curfew is helping us, so night curfew should continue. Whatever the centre will take the decisions, we will happily agree.,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Rivers cross danger level mark in Assam

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Rivers cross danger level mark in Assam

Assam: Rivers cross danger level mark due to unremitting rainfall and sudden release of water from the dam

May 30, 2020: Rivers cross danger level mark in Assam due to unremitting rainfall and sudden release of water from the Kureshi dam in Bhutan, many rivers in Assam like the Beki river which is a right-bank tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra and a large portion of which flows through Assam, are crossing the danger level resulting in the flooding of villages and destroying of crops.

Many villages of Assam’s Baksa district are submerged underwater with more than 2,000 families affected and hundreds of bighas of land and Pachli crops severely damaged.

Due to the release of water from Bhutan’s Kurishwa Dam, the water level of the Beki river has risen too beyond the danger level since 22nd May.

Meanwhile villages of Kamarpara, Bardanga, Srirampur, Galia, Lachanga, Balaipathar, Daukmari, Kharballi, Sheopur, Kalgachia are all too heavily flooded. Flooded along with these villages are hundreds of acres of paddy, food and vegetable crops, causing huge losses to farmers.

People of these villages have demanded immediate flood relief from the Assam government.

Nagaland reports 7 new COVID-19 positive cases

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Nagaland reports 7 new COVID-19 positive cases

Nagaland reports 7 new COVID-19 positive cases, state tally rises to 25:

Guwahati, May 29: Nagaland on Friday has registered seven new positive cases for COVID-19.

With the new cases, the state tally has now surged to 25.

Confirming the report, Nagaland Health minister S Pangnyu Phom said that, all seven COVID-19 had returned to the state from Chennai recently.

“Out of seven cases, four cases have been reported from Kohima, two from Dimapur and one from Tuensang,” S Pangnyu Phom said.

He tweeted – “5 more tested positive of COVID19. 1 at Dimapur & 4 at Kohima. All returnees from Chennai. Nagaland stand at 25.”

On Thursday, nine positive cases for COVID-19 were detected in the state.

First COVID-19 positive case reported in Sikkim

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First COVID-19 positive case reported in Sikkim

Sikkim: First COVID-19 positive patient-reported; State yet to start sample testing

May 20, 2020: With the first COVID-19 positive case already reported in the Himalayan state of Sikkim, the state is yet to start the testing of samples although a testing laboratory, the Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VDRL) has already been established.

The testing lab was established on 21st May with the accreditation done on the inaugural day itself.

“The accreditation we had done on the day of the inauguration, on the 21st and we had also sent the video of the lab to ICMR and got the accreditation. Then after that, we got 4 samples from North Bengal Medical College for testing, the reports of which they knew but didn’t share with us. So we did that testing and our report tallied with their report so this is how we passed it.” said Dr Pempa T Bhutia, Director General and Secretary, Health Department, Government of Sikkim.

However, testing kits were found to be unavailable when a conformity test was going to be conducted. Dr Bhutia reasoned that the delay in the process is due to the need to follow some official protocols and unavailability of testing kits.

“There are some official things which have to be followed and we have to do the accreditation of the lab first. Then we have to do the screening test and we have to pass that,” he mentioned.

“Next phase is a conformity test, which we received around 2 or 3 days ago…But when we were supposed to do that we found that we had not yet been sent the testing kits by ICMR. On inquiring we were informed that kits have exhausted and we should ask from Calcutta.” ha added.

He further claimed that since then, the Sikkim government has been following up with NICED In Kolkata and they have begun receiving kits since Friday.

“Since then we are following up with Kolkata. The tourism department has nominated one officer to follow that. It is coming through a personal hired vehicle from yesterday morning. It will reach here by today. We are receiving all the items in NSM by today. The setting is going on.” said Dr Bhutia.

Given that everything goes as planned, the samples will be tested on Saturday. Although he couldn’t be much sure about its possibility.

“If everything will be fine, we will test those samples tomorrow. I am not sure about this but we are trying to do it by tomorrow, that will be our first samples. As everyone is new so we can’t expect to do more tests and as it goes on slowly, we will be able to take more tests.” Dr Bhutia said.

He has also assured that the tests will be conducted as soon as possible.

“We have brought the samples to STNM hospital and have kept it in a refrigerator there because we are also trying our level best to start our lab at the earliest.”

The first COVID-19 positive case in Sikkim was reported on 23rd May.

Highest single-day spike of COVID-19 cases in Assam

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Highest single-day spike of COVID-19 cases in Assam

Assam sees highest single-day spike with 177 COVID-19 positive cases, state tally rises to 1057:

Guwahati, May 30: Assam has witnessed the highest single-day spike in the numbers of COVID-19 positive cases as 177 positive cases for the new virus detected in the state in the last 24 hours.

With the new cases, the state tally has now increased to 1057.

Out of the new cases, 30 cases have been reported from Kamrup district, 27 from Golaghat, 17 from Tinsukia, 14 cases each from Guwahati, Dhubri, 12 from Cachar, 11 cases each from Kamrup (Metro), Biswanath, 9 from Udalguri, 8 from Hojai, 6 from Karimganj, 4 from Dhemaji, two cases each from Lakhimpur, Hailakandi, Karbi Anglong, Darrang districts.

Assam Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that, six air travellers also tested positive for COVID-19.

Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted – “33 new cases of #COVID19+. 11 Golaghat, 11 Biswanath Chariali, 9 Udalguri, 2 Darrang. Total cases 1057, Recovered 125, Active cases 925, Deaths 04.”

Assam had reported its first COVID-19 case on March 31 and the case was found at Silchar Medical College Hospital (SMCH) and the 100th positive case for COVID-19 was detected in the state on May 17.

Four people have died due to COVID-19 in the state.

It took only 13 days to reach 1000 positive cases from 100 cases in the state.

The state has now 925 active positive cases for COVID-19.

IIT Madras researchers triple Dolphin population in Chilika Lake

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IIT Madras researchers triple Dolphin population in Chilika Lake

IIT Madras Researchers help Chilika Lake in Odisha to triple Irrawaddy Dolphin Population:

CHENNAI, 29th May 2020: IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Madras Researchers undertook a major project at the famous Chilika Lake, the largest brackish water body of Asia and the first Ramsar site of India, to help triple the population of the Irrawaddy dolphin.

The intervention of IIT Madras also benefitted the over 200,000 fishermen living in 132 villages as it resulted in a seven-fold increase of fish catch and tourists to co-exist with the lake ecosystem with minimal disturbance to the environment.

Due to the successful restoration, the lake was removed from the threatened list (Montreux record) 1st from Asia. Chilika Development Authority also received the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award and Evian special prize 2002 for outstanding achievement.

Chilika Lake in Odisha
Chilika Lake in Odisha.

In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, an international treaty for the conservation of wetlands

Chilika Lagoon is over 4,000 years old and spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha. The highly productive ecosystem of the lake supports the livelihood for fishermen and also acts as drainage for Mahanadi river basin. The lake was in a degraded condition and included in the threatened list (Montreux Record) by Ramsar Convention in 1993. This warranted urgent action for restoration of the lake.

The geotechnical, hydraulic and satellite imagery studies showed the spit of Chilika is constantly changing. The sand bar has been widening, and the position of the mouth constantly shifting, moving generally towards the northeast. The mouth was described as being about 1.5 km wide in 1780 and had decreased to half within forty years in 1820. It also showed the Chilika lake mouth located originally near Sipakuda in 1800 has gradually shifted in the last 200 years towards the northern side to Arkhakuda.

Satellite image of CHilika lake
Geotechnical, hydraulic and satellite imagery of Chilika Lake

The sedimentation in the South and erosion in the North due to littoral drift is the major cause of continuous shift of the mouth towards the North. The outer inlet channel of 18km length was formed between Sipakuda and Arkhakuda and the tidal exchange through this channel was not sufficient to maintain the quality of brackish water and overall brackish ecosystem of in the lake.

The scientific investigation was carried out by Prof. R. Sundaravadivelu, Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras, Dr L. K. Ghosh (Ex-Additional Director CWPRS POONA), Dr P. Chandramohan (Indomer Coastal Hydraulics, Chennai) and Dr Ajit Kumar Pattnaik (Ex-Chief Executive, Chilika Development Authority) to trace the root cause of degradation.  The hydrodynamic regime of the lagoon was affected due to shifting of the mouth towards the northeast and subsequent reduction of seawater into the lake. Consequently, the ecology, biodiversity and economy of the area were also affected. The present study deals with the intervention carried out in October 2000 to open the mouth 18 km south of the shifted mouth.

Highlighting the outcomes of this project, Prof.  R. Sundaravadivelu, Institute Chair Professor, Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras, who spearheaded the project, said,  “The Chilika Lake was restored with a cost of Rs.10 crores by opening the mouth and other related works in six months which has resulted in fish catch worth Rs.100 crore and revenue of Rs. 35 crore due to Tourism every year.”

Restoration of Chilika Lake
Opening of the new mouth in Chilika lake.

The Sipakuda mouth opened in 2000 has significantly improved the ecosystem. The tide levels at Satapada before the opening of the mouth (March 2000) was 10 cm, while this improved to 60 cm, which is the indication of more tidal inflow and stabilising the brackish water nature in the Chilika. But the mouth was consistently migrating towards the north and another mouth at Gabakund opened naturally. In the process of migration, the Sipakuda mouth merged with Gabakund mouth in 2012 and the width was about 2700 m at the time of merging. Studies conducted indicate the need for further interventions inside the lake like the de-siltation.

IIT Madras developed the dredging methodology identifying the location of dredging along with disposal and selection of suitable dredger with minimum impact on the ecosystem. Based on the outcome of this successful hydrological intervention by IIT Madras undertaken under the auspices of the Chilika Development Authority (CDA), the flood inundation and freshwater weeds are reduced. The hydrological intervention restored the lake ecosystem and ameliorated the biodiversity. The fish production increased 7-fold and the population of highly threatened Irrawaddy dolphin increased. The enhancement of fishery resources and the increase of population of Irrawaddy dolphin promoted ecotourism which immensely benefitted the local fishers.

view of chilika lake

The Chilika Lake Authority has developed an Ecosystem Health Report Card. Periodical monitoring of salinity, fish and dolphin, freshwater weeds, birds and other biological parameters are being carried out by an Advisory Committee chaired by Mr Sushanta Kumar Nanda IFS (Chief Executive Chilika development Authority), in which IIT Madras is an active member.

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