-Scroll.in Days after the town was submerged, social media accounts started posting about ‘flood jihad’. Last month’s deluge in Silchar, in Assam’s Cachar district, was followed by a dangerous rumour. This was no natural flood, the rumour claimed – it was deliberately caused. Several social media accounts suggested it was “flood jihad”, in a not-so-veiled reference to the Muslim community. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma himself repeatedly suggested the flood was no...

-PTI/ The Telegraph Cachar is worst-hit district in Assam with 3,55,960 people still affected Guwahati: Two more people died on Sunday even as the flood situation in Assam considerably improved, as per an official bulletin. Both the deaths happened in Hailakandi district, taking the toll in this year's flood and landslides to 192, as per the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin. Still, 5,39,334 are suffering in the flood across 12 districts. Altogether...

-The Hindu The draft calls for expanding the disabilities prevention programme of the Health Ministry from “traditional causes” to other causes, including malnourishment and medical negligence After several stakeholders demanded more time to respond, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has extended the time for the public to submit comments on the draft National Policy for persons with disabilities (PwD), which was published last month, by one week time,...

-The Telegraph The number of persons arrested in the case has gone up to four Guwahati: Three more persons have been arrested on charges of damaging a dyke that led to the flooding of Silchar in Assam on June 19 with water from the overflowing Barak river that runs along the town. The number of persons arrested in the case has gone up to four after the arrest of Mitu Hussain Laskar, Nazir...

-Hindustan Times Some violations of the air and water acts, the environment protection law, and the public liability insurance law that deals with providing relief to victims of accidents while handling hazardous substances in industries will be decriminalised to remove the fear of imprisonment, the ministry said. New Delhi: Violation of certain environmental regulations may soon be decriminalised, although they would attract stiffer penalties, according to public consultation papers released by the...