Assam govt takes up intensive measures to check JE, AES
Guwahati: The Assam health department has undertaken intensive measures to halt the spread of Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in the state which have claimed 252 lives. A health department spokesman today said no death was reported today even as efforts to combat the disease continued on a war footing. While 69 persons have died due of Japanese Encephalitis and 183 of AES, 1,580 people were affected by the two diseases, 420 by JE and 1,160 by AES this year, the spokesman said. Fogging was being done in 24 of the 27 districts with the Lower Assam districts of Barpeta, Nalbari, Darrang, Kamrup (Rural) and Kamrup (Metro) being the worst affected, while the Upper Assam districts of Tinsukia, North Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Dhemaji and Golaghat also hit by the disease. Awareness campaign was being carried out at all administrative levels, including the local panchayats, he said. The department was also closely monitoring the regular supply of vaccine and medicine to the hospitals and other health centres. (PTI)
Two boys missing after going to fish in river
Aizawl: Two boys have gone missing after they went to catch fish in the swollen Tuirivang river a place 40 km from here, the police said on Sunday. A massive search operation has been launched for the duo who went missing last evening, sources said. The police said that 12-year-old Lalrosanga and 13-year-old Lalrinpuia, both from Phulpui village were fishing in the swollen river and were suspected to have been swept away by the turbulent water. Meanwhile, the bodies of two passengers of a maxicab which rolled down a gorge and submerged in the river Tlawng near Aizawl on Friday morning were found on Sunday. The body of Mintoo, driver of the maxicab was found early morning while the body of Vinod, a passenger who boarded the vehicle from Nutun Bazar near Silchar in Assam’s Cachar district was found at around 9 am. Eight people including the driver and the second were on board when the accident took place near Sairang village, about 40 km west of Aizawl. (PTI)
5,000 MT rice consignment arrives at Bangladesh port
Agartala: The first consignment of 5,000 MT rice for Tripura has arrived at Ashuganj sea port via sea route from Visakhapatnam to Agartala via Diamond Harbour in West Bengal, Food Corporation of India (FCI) officials said here on Sunday. The consignment will remain in the port till completion of Id-Ul-Fitter festival, scheduled on July 29. The rice will start moving for Akhaura Integrated Check Post (ICP), Agartala by Bangladeshi truck loads from Ashuganj. FCI dispatched the first consignment of 5,000 MT of rice from Visakhapatnam to Agartala using AllCargo Logistics’ multi-purpose vessel, Laxmi, earlier this month following repeated persuasion of Tripura government to explore an alternative sustainable transshipment of goods. The state government has faced a challenge when Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) had announced to suspend all train services between Lumding and Agartala from 1st October next for conversion of metre gauge to broad gauge at least for six months. “Tripura is connected with NH 44 with rest of the country but due to poor maintenance of highways, it becomes risky for travelling of loaded trucks and buses. With the inception of train service up to Agartala all good movements are shifted to railway and since railway service is going to be suspended for gauge conversion, FCI has opted alternative route via Bangladesh,” said officials of food and civil supplies of the state. FCI will move for subsequent consignments delivery for Tripura via sea route of Bangladesh. (UNI)