K.L. Rahul has been re-appointed vice-captain of India’s men’s Test squad, while the spin duo of Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey along with lanky pacer Gurnoor Brar have earned their maiden Test call-ups for the one-off Test against Afghanistan to be played in New Chandigarh from June 6 to 10.

Prince Yadav, one of the standout performers of the ongoing Indian Premier League season, has received his maiden ODI call-up for the three-match series to follow beginning on June 14.

The senior national selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, met in Guwahati — the hometown of BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia — on Tuesday afternoon to pick both squads.

“There are a couple of guys who are injured who were part of the one-day squad before. With Gurnoor, we have seen a lot of promise over the last season and a half now. Tall guy with a bit of pace,” Agarkar said.

“Keeping the South African World Cup in mind, we are obviously going to try a few guys who at that point might be useful if they keep developing.

“Prince Yadav has shown a lot of promise through the domestic season. I think he had a really good Vijay Hazare (Trophy). Obviously, bowled well in the IPL. But we have seen that he has grown a lot as a bowler over the last year or so and has the necessary skills to succeed with the white ball.

“It is a great opportunity with these three one-days coming up. Because with the way the rules are structured and so much in favour of the batsmen, you are obviously looking at guys with regards to conditions in South Africa who have a chance of succeeding.

“And there might be a few more we try over the course of the next few series. These two are the ones that we have zeroed in at this point,” he added.

The Test squad does not feature Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, with both players having been rested, as clarified by Agarkar during a virtual media interaction.

Rahul thus replaces Rishabh Pant as vice-captain. Pant has also lost his place in the ODI squad to Ishan Kishan, although Agarkar stressed that there was “no doubt” over Pant’s credentials as a match-winner in Test cricket.

“KL has been Test captain before. Obviously, Rishabh was vice-captain and we want him to be the best batter that he can be and that he has always been in Test cricket. So, no, there is no other reason. That’s the best option we think at this point that we have as far as vice-captain with experience.” Agarkar said.

Apart from Jadeja, Axar Patel is another notable absentee from the squads. Agarkar, however, said Jadeja remains the No. 1 spinner for Tests.

“Jadeja has just been rested for this Test. He is aware of it. That’s why he is not in the team. He still remains a very integral part of the Test team. We know what Jadeja or Axar can do.

“This is the time we try and give some opportunity to some of the other guys. Wth regards to Tests, he still remains our number one spinner,” Agarkar said.

Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, both dealing with fitness concerns during the ongoing IPL, have been included in the ODI squad for the series starting June 13, subject to fitness clearance.

The squads: Test: Shubman Gill (Capt.), KL Rahul (Vice-capt.), Yashasvi Jaiswal, B. Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel (wk).

ODI: Shubman Gill (Capt.), Shreyas Iyer (Vice-capt.), Rohit Sharma*, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya*, Prince Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy. (* subject to fitness clearance)

The schedule: Test: June 6 to 10 (New Chandigarh).

ODIs: June 14 (Dharamsala), June 17 (Lucknow), June 20 (Chennai).

Published – May 19, 2026 06:40 pm IST

Guwahati:

A ward boy at a private hospital in Assam’s Guwahati has been arrested for alleged sexual harassment of a minor patient inside the Intensive Care Unit. The 40-year-old has been charged under the provisions of the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act.

According to reports, the ward boy at the Metro Hospital had allegedly tried to touch her “badly”, the 11-year-old patient has alleged.

The incident took place inside the ICU complex, the police complaint had added.

The police are investigating the case. The ward boy has been booked under Section 12 of the POCSO Act.

Kolkata/Guwahati:

A Mumbai man managed to reach Guwahati on time to marry his lover on Sunday, thanks to the help from railways that detained a connecting train in Howrah station and shifted the wedding guests to another train on battery-operated vehicles.

The groom and his relatives were getting anxious since Gitanjali Express from Mumbai, on which they were travelling, was getting late to reach Howrah. They were afraid of missing the Saraighat Express which would take them to Guwahati from there.

A member of the ‘baraat’ posted a message on the X handle of the railways, requesting help and that set the ball rolling and finally, the bride and the groom married without any more hassle.

@RailMinIndia@AshwiniVaishnaw@nerailwaygkp@EasternRailway Need urgent help, we are group of 35 people, travelling via Gitanjali express for my marriage which is delayed by 3.5 hrs, Need to catch Sarighat express at 4:00 pm which seems difficult. Kindly help. My no. 9029597736 pic.twitter.com/a3ULEXHJfs

— Chandu (@chanduwagh21) November 15, 2024

Gitanjali Express was scheduled to arrive at Howrah at 1.05 pm on Friday, but it got delayed. Saraighat Express was scheduled to depart for Assam at 4:05 pm from Howrah station.

Following the post of Chandrashekhar D Wagh on X, the Howrah Divisional Railway Manager received an urgent message from higher authorities to do the needful, a senior official of the Eastern Railways told PTI.

The officials decided to delay the departure of Saraighat Express and ensured swift arrival of Gitanjali Express to Howrah.

As Gitanjali Express arrived at Howrah at 4.08 pm, railway authorities ensured swift movement of the ‘baraat’ members on battery-operated vehicles from platform number 24 in the new complex to platform number 9 in the old complex where the Saraighat Express was waiting for them, he said.

The groom and his relatives heaved a sigh of relief after boarding the train which chugged off to Guwahati after a delay of a few minutes.

“We got the help and support of all the passengers of the two trains and the Railway Minister, Chief Commercial Manager, DRM and other senior railway officials took every step to ensure the young groom did not miss his marriage,” the ER official said.

“It is our moral responsibility to deliver services like these,” he added.

The ER, in a post on X, said, “IR arranged to detain Saraighat Express at Howrah for a few minutes so that a marriage party with ‘dulha‘ coming by Gitanjali Express and going to Guwahati can catch the train. The marriage party has expressed their thanks to Railways for this helping gesture.” Wagh is in Guwahati for his marriage, which took place on Sunday, in both Marathi and Assamese rituals.

“My son did his PhD from IIT Guwahati. At that time, he fell in love with an Assamese girl. We came all the way from Mumbai to welcome the beautiful bride into our family,” the groom’s mother Mangal Wagh told PTI from the wedding venue.

She said the entire family is grateful to Indian Railways, otherwise, they would not have reached on time for the ceremony.

“We have many aged people in the group who could not walk fast. The Howrah station officials really helped us,” Wagh said.

She, however, said the groom with the newly-wed lady and other members of the family to leave Guwahati by flight on Tuesday as everyone would be tired after the ceremonies.

“Since morning, my son’s marriage took place in Marathi customs. Now, it will be conducted through Assamese rituals throughout the night. We are very happy with the arrangements here,” the mother said.

The 30-year-old groom Wagh, who got his PhD degree in Civil Engineering during this year’s convocation from IIT Guwahati, is an Assistant Professor at Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute in Mumbai. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Guwahati:

A police officer was suspended after a video of him assaulting a delivery agent in Assam’s Guwahati went viral on social media on Friday. The incident took place around 6:30 pm near the Jail Road traffic point in Fancy Bazar after the agent allegedly broke a traffic signal.

According to the police, the delivery agent was riding in a “no entry” zone and had tried to escape despite being instructed to halt by the Police Security Officer (PSO).

The video, captured by bystanders, shows the police official, Inspector Bhargav of OC Panbazar, dragging the delivery agent to the side of the road. At the same time, another officer moved the victim’s scooty aside. The officer held the delivery agent by the neck and angrily questioned him.

He can also be heard threatening the victim, saying, “Where do you think you are going?” and “I will kill you”.

Several bystanders attempted to intervene and asked the police officer to stop, but he repeatedly kept hitting the delivery agent.

Eyewitnesses who were recording the incident said that the officer, upon noticing, began threatening them and demanded that they stop filming. He asked them to “mind their own business”.

Assam Director General of Police (DGP) GP Singh condemned the incident, calling it “unacceptable”, and suspended the police officer.

“The Behaviour of Insp Bhargav Borbora OC Panbazar is unacceptable. He is being placed under suspension with immediate effect and a Departmental Enquiry has been ordered. CP Guwahati has been advised to post another officer immediately,” he wrote in a post on X.

Guwahati:

A large crowd gathered at Dighalipukhuri in Assam’s Guwahati today to protest against the state government’s proposal to cut trees to construct a new flyover. 

The proposed flyover will connect Noonmati and Dighalipukhuri in Guwahati. Residents are concerned about the construction’s environmental consequences.

Their primary concern is the loss of green cover in the area, with many fearing that cutting the trees will impact the local ecosystem of the area. Dighalipukhuri, known for its historic pond and rich green cover, holds both ecological and cultural importance for the city. 

Locals say that the area’s trees offer shade, especially during summers, and provide a habitat for several bird species, including rare migratory birds, enhancing the city’s biodiversity.

Activists said some trees slated for removal are over 200 years old with a deep-rooted significance to the city’s heritage and environment. These trees are not just part of Guwahati’s natural legacy but are vital to the urban landscape, providing fresh air and a sanctuary for the birds.

Protesters are calling on the government to consider alternatives that allow for development without affecting the environment. They argue that the authorities should explore construction methods that avoid tree felling, particularly for trees with historical value.

Moreover, a recent Right to Information (RTI) inquiry revealed that 21 trees are set to be impacted by the project, intensifying the concerns of local citizens.

Residents will also file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to legally halt the ongoing tree-cutting activities. They claim that the flyover project was initiated without adequate environmental impact assessments or community consultations, raising questions about the transparency and foresight of the government’s planning process.

Guwahati:

Students with disabilities in Assam’s capital Guwahati are immersed in preparing hand-painted diyas (earthen lamps) for the upcoming Diwali festival. Shishu Sarothi, a prominent school for children with disabilities in Guwahati, has seen its vocational unit produce over 10,000 vibrant diyas this year, with every single piece sold out ahead of the celebrations.

The handmade Diwali lamps and decorations crafted by these students have gained tremendous popularity in Guwahati with demand increasing annually. Many residents now pre-order these diyas as part of their Diwali preparations.

This year, the vocational unit, which includes 50 children with disabilities, managed to craft over 10,000 diyas—a testament to the students’ dedication and skill.

Gayatri Devi Adhikari, a vocational teacher at Shishu Sarothi, told NDTV that the training focuses on enhancing each student’s individual strengths and abilities to foster independence.

“The students clean and paint the diyas themselves and once they’re ready, we package and sell them. We also offer single diyas for individual sale,” she explained.

Richa Adhikari, a student at Shishu Sarothi, said the students worked together to make and paint the diyas, adding that they plan to create Rangolis as well for Diwali.

“We have a growing clientele for these diyas, including corporate clients,” noted Zerina, the Coordinator of the Skill Development Programme at Shishu Sarothi.

 “Last year, the students made 5,000 diyas, and this year they’ve doubled that number”, Ms Zerina said.

Since 1987, Shishu Sarothi has been dedicated to supporting people with disabilities. The vocational unit was established to teach students with disabilities valuable crafts and help them gain greater independence.

Guwahati:

A chilling incident has come to light in Assam’s Guwahati, where the skeletal remains of a decomposed body of an elderly woman were found inside a house. The body has been identified as Purnima Devi, 75. The police said it is suspected she died three months ago in the house in Guwahati’s Jyotikuchi neighbourhood.

Devi was living with her son, Jaydeep Dey, who is reportedly suffering from a mental illness, their neighbours said.

The police also believe Mr Dey had been living with his mother’s skeleton for several months before the body was found.

Following the discovery of the body, Mr Dey was detained by the police on Sunday night for questioning. Forensic experts and a police team have combed through the house.

An autopsy of the skeletal remains was scheduled to be conducted today. The police are also questioning Mr Dey’s maternal uncle and grandmother in connection with the case.

Local authorities from Fatasil police station and a magistrate also went to the house. The incident has shocked the city.

“The son was mentally unwell and his behaviour was weird and aggressive, which was why many people did not talk to them,” a neighbour said.

“When his father was alive, he abused him as well. He used to scold his mother if she came out to talk to anyone and for the last few months he always kept the house locked,” the neighbour alleged.

Another neighbour said Mr Dey told some people that his mother was fine and she was not interested in coming out of the house. To others, Mr Day said his mother was unwell and so wouldn’t come out, the second neighbour said.

“Dey told me his mother had passed away. All these contradictory versions led us to doubting him and we alerted his relatives, who called the police,” the neighbour said.

A police officer said Mr Dey told them his mother died three months ago, but he could not tell anyone as he was unwell and there was no relatives nearby.

“We will investigate and find out what exactly happened,” the officer said.

Guwahati:

More than 3.90 lakh people continued to reel under floodwater in Assam as the overall situation remained grim, officials said on Saturday.

Even though there was a marginal improvement in the flood situation with receding rainfall bringing respite in some parts of the state, 19 districts still remained affected, they said.

The death count in this year’s flood, landslides and storm has reached 37, while one person is missing, the officials said.

Altogether 3,90,491 people remained affected in Kamrup, Tamulpur, Hailakandi, Udalguri, Hojai, Dhubri, Barpeta, Biswanath, Nalbari, Bongaigaon, Baksa, Karimganj, South Salmara, Goalpara, Darrang, Bajali, Nagaon, Cachar and Kamrup Metropolitan districts as on Friday evening.

The number of affected people had decreased marginally from 4.09 lakh on Thursday, though the number of flood-hit districts remained the same.

Karimganj has been the worst-affected district with over 2.40 lakh people hit.

Among the major rivers flowing over the danger level were Kopili at Kampur and Dharamtul, Barak at BP Ghat and Kushiyara in Karimganj, as per reports on Friday evening.

More than 100 relief camps, sheltering over 15,000 people, have been opened, while another 125 relief distribution centres are also functional.

Houses, cattle sheds, roads, bridges, embankments and other infrastructure have been affected or damaged in different districts, the officials added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)