Hornbill News

  NES President Prof. Tana Showren hands over the₹20 lakh cheque to the Deputy Commissioner of Keyi Panyor district. YAZALI, July 12:  Demonstrating solidarity with the victims of the devastating flash floods that struck Keyi Panyor district last month, the Nyishi Elite Society (NES), along with the All Nyishi Students' Union (ANSU) and the All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA), on Sunday handed over ₹20 lakh as humanitarian financial assistance to the Deputy Commissioner of Keyi Panyor. The financial assistance has been provided as interim relief for families affected by the flash floods in Possa and Potin, where widespread destruction left hundreds of residents grappling with the loss of homes, livelihoods and essential infrastructure. The unprecedented flash flood that hit the district on June 24 triggered massive devastation, washing away houses, damaging roads and bridges, disrupting connectivity and causing extensive losses to public and private property.  The disaste...

  Ziro, July 11: The Bamin Michi Tourism Promotion Committee (BMTPC) has launched a year-long cleanliness and awareness campaign aimed at transforming Bamin Michi into a clean, sustainable and model tourist village through active community participation and lasting behavioural change. Nestled in the picturesque Ziro Valley of Arunachal Pradesh, Bamin Michi is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and scenic beauty. The village is historically recognised as the only settlement in the region known for its traditional pottery craftsmanship before the widespread use of modern utensils.  It is also home to Pamu Yallang, one of Ziro's most popular viewpoints, offering panoramic views of the valley and attracting visitors throughout the year. As part of its vision to strengthen tourism while preserving the village's natural and cultural identity, BMTPC has initiated a sustained campaign focusing on cleanliness, environmental conservation and responsible waste management. The campai...

  TEZU, July 8: A mudslide struck Lohitpur in Arunachal Pradesh's Lohit district on Wednesday morning, trapping five people beneath debris and triggering an immediate rescue operation by district authorities and emergency response teams. According to official updates, all five trapped individuals were successfully rescued following a coordinated rescue effort. Of the rescued victims, two are reported to be in critical condition and are receiving urgent medical treatment, while the remaining three are in stable condition. The rescue operation was carried out by a joint team comprising the District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Superintendent of Police (SP), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP), Circle Officer (CO), and other district officials, who rushed to the site soon after the incident was reported. Authorities have ensured that the injured were provided immediate medical attention, while officials continue to monitor the area and t...

  TAWANG, July 7:  The District Administration, Tawang, on Tuesday intensified its campaign against plastic pollution by conducting a surprise inspection across Nehru Market, New Market, and Medical Colony to enforce the ban on single-use plastics and plastic drinking water bottles with a capacity of less than two litres. The inspection was led by Assistant Commissioner-cum-Town Magistrate Nawang Thutan, accompanied by Er. Phurpa Lamu and officials from the Department of Urban Affairs, Tawang. During the enforcement drive, teams inspected shops and commercial establishments to ensure compliance with the district administration's order prohibiting the sale, storage, and use of banned plastic items.  Traders and business owners were also sensitised about the harmful impact of single-use plastics on the environment, particularly in the ecologically fragile Himalayan region, and were encouraged to switch to sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives. Officials reiterated that str...

  ITANAGAR, July 6:  The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Meteorological Centre, Itanagar, has issued an Impact-Based Weather Forecast warning of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and heavy to very heavy rainfall over parts of Arunachal Pradesh for the next two days.  The advisory, issued at 1:00 PM on Monday, warns that isolated areas in Namsai, Lohit, Longding, and Tirap districts are likely to experience intense rainfall, prompting residents and authorities to remain on alert. According to the forecast, Namsai district is expected to receive heavy rainfall (6–11 cm in 24 hours) along with thunderstorms and lightning between July 7 and July 8, while Lohit district is likely to witness very heavy rainfall (12–20 cm in 24 hours) during the same period. For the following day, July 8 to July 9, the IMD has forecast heavy rainfall (6–11 cm in 24 hours) accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places in Namsai and Longding districts. Tirap district, m...

  POSA, July 3:  Demonstrating solidarity with communities affected by the recent floods, the Bamin Michi Tourism Promotion Committee (BMTPC) extended relief assistance to flood-hit families in Posa, reinforcing its commitment to community welfare beyond tourism promotion. The relief distribution programme was organised in collaboration with the Hon'ble ZPM of South Diibo, Ziro.  Essential household items, including large buckets, plates, and other kitchen utensils, were distributed to affected families to help them resume their daily lives and recover from the devastation caused by the floods. Speaking on the occasion, BMTPC General Secretary Michi Byai said that natural disasters highlight the importance of unity and collective responsibility. “Relief is more than the distribution of materials. It is a message that no family stands alone in difficult times. Hope is delivered through action, and when communities unite with compassion and purpose, recovery begins,” he sai...

  Tawang, July 2:  The Tawang district administration on Thursday convened a district-level meeting on Solid Waste Management at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner's Office under the chairpersonship of Deputy Commissioner Namgyal Angmo, IAS. The meeting brought together ADC Tawang Rinchin Leta, ADC Lungla Tashi Dhondup, Zila Parishad Members, representatives of the Indian Army, ITBP, NGOs, students, and Material Recovery Facility (MRF) operators from Jemeithang, Tawang, and Lhou to review ongoing waste management initiatives and discuss future strategies. The programme began with a welcome address by ADC Tawang Rinchin Leta. A major highlight of the event was the inspiring speeches delivered in the Monpa dialect by Tashi Yangzom of Government Secondary School, Bomba, and Gom Yutton of Government Higher Secondary School, Jang, winners of the district-level waste management speech competition held last week.  ADC Lungla Tashi Dhondup presented the achievements o...

  Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Shivraj Singh Chouhan with CM Pema Khandu during their visit to flood-hit Keyi Panyor. KEYI PANYOR, June 30: Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, along with Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, State Agriculture Minister Kento Jini, and senior government officials on Tuesday visited the flood-affected stretch of National Highway-13 between Hoj and Potin in Keyi Panyor district to assess the extensive damage caused by recent floods and landslides. The high-level delegation inspected the affected areas, reviewed the ongoing restoration work, and interacted with families impacted by the disaster. National Highway-13, the state's principal arterial road connecting several districts of Arunachal Pradesh, has suffered severe damage following continuous heavy rainfall, flash floods, and landslides, significantly disrupting trans...

  KEYI PANYOR, June 30:  The MLA of the 17th Ziro-Hapoli Assembly Constituency, Hage Appa, along with representatives of various Apatani community-based organisations (CBOs) and student unions, on Tuesday visited the flash flood-affected Posa area in Keyi Panyor district to express solidarity with the victims. During the visit, the delegation conveyed profound grief over the recent cloudburst and devastating flash floods that ravaged several parts of the district, particularly the NEEPCO area, including Posa and other severely affected locations. In a message of condolence and solidarity, Hage Appa said he was deeply saddened by the tragic loss of five lives in the disaster. Extending his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, he prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. He also prayed that all affected families find the strength, courage, and resilience to overcome the difficult situation. As a gesture of suppor...

  ANINI, June 27:  A rare sighting of the elusive Himalayan Musk Deer in the high-altitude region of Anini, Arunachal Pradesh's Dibang Valley district, has once again highlighted the exceptional biodiversity of one of India's most pristine wilderness landscapes. The Himalayan Musk Deer was noticed and recorded on video by trekkers while traversing the high-altitude trails near Anini. In the footage, the elusive animal appears equally startled by the unexpected encounter, remaining almost completely motionless for nearly a minute as it stared towards the person recording before eventually disappearing into the rugged terrain. Such close observations are exceptionally rare given the species' shy and secretive nature. Every year, thousands of trekkers from across India and abroad visit Anini, with the renowned Seven Lakes Trek being one of the region's biggest attractions. The trek offers breathtaking alpine landscapes, pristine glacial lakes and an opportunity to experien...

  Tawang, June 22:  A Mass Rhododendron Plantation Drive was conducted in Tawang on Monday, continuing the momentum generated during the World Environment Day celebrations on June 5. The initiative aimed to promote environmental conservation and expand the region’s rich rhododendron cover, which forms an important part of Tawang’s unique Himalayan ecosystem. Participating in the plantation drive, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu highlighted the ecological significance of rhododendrons and emphasized the collective responsibility of protecting and enhancing the region’s natural heritage. "Tawang is blessed with one of the richest diversities of rhododendrons in the Himalayas, making it our collective responsibility to protect and expand this extraordinary natural wealth," the Chief Minister said. Underscoring the long-term benefits of afforestation, Khandu added, "Every sapling we plant today strengthens our forests, protects our mountains, preserves biodivers...

  East Siang, March 14, 2026: The traditional village council of Karko, known as the Karko Baane Kebang under Jengging Circle in Upper Siang district, has rejected the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) and all related activities within its ancestral territory. During a village assembly held at the Karko Dere (community hall) on Saturday, members of the community convened under the authority of customary law and declared that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on February 1, 2026 for the Preliminary Feasibility Report (PFR) does not represent the collective will of the people of Karko. The Kebang stated that the individuals who signed the document did so without the mandate of the village council and without the consent of the community. It further noted that the MoU was reportedly signed at the DC Bungalow garage, which, according to the council, cannot substitute the lawful and customary decision-making process of the village assembly. According to the Kar...

  East Siang, March 13, 2026: Personnel of the Fire & Emergency Services (F&ES) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been honoured for their crucial role in containing the massive forest fire that broke out in the Mebo Sub-Division of East Siang district earlier this month. The fire, which raged from March 6 to March 12, affected large areas of forest and surrounding land. According to official reports, nearly 140 hectares of reserve forest and around 200 hectares of community forest, agricultural, and horticultural land across Sigar, Ralling, and Mebo were impacted by the blaze. A coordinated firefighting effort involving multiple government agencies, local volunteers, and security forces helped bring the situation under control. The Indian Air Force also played a vital role by conducting aerial firefighting operations, carrying out 54 water-dropping sorties and releasing more than 1.62 lakh litres of water to suppress the flames. Despite extremely challenging...

  Itanagar, March 12, 2026: The Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) has issued a notice directing all scrap dealers operating within its jurisdiction to obtain valid trade licences and ensure that rag pickers engaged by them do not tear garbage bags collected from households. According to the notice issued by IMC Commissioner Kego Jilen on March 12, the civic body observed that several scrap dealers are currently operating without proper trade licences under the IMC jurisdiction. It was also found that these dealers collect scrap materials through rag pickers employed by them. The IMC further stated that rag pickers are frequently seen tearing open garbage bags containing household waste that are dumped by citizens in stationed IMC sanitation vehicles and designated collection points. Such activities reportedly scatter waste in surrounding areas and create unhygienic conditions, causing public nuisance. IMC order copy In response, the corporation has directed all scrap dealers to ...

  Upper Siang, March 5, 2026: In further support of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on February 26, 2026 between the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and the residents of Simong and Halleng villages regarding the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), an additional 46 residents of Simong village under Yingkiong Circle in Upper Siang district submitted their irrevocable consent on March 5, 2026 for undertaking the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) study activities for the proposed project. The consent letters were formally handed over to Deputy Commissioner of Upper Siang, Talo Jerang, at around 1 PM at the meeting hall of his official bungalow. The meeting was attended by government officers, senior members of Simong village and Project Affected Families (PAFs). On behalf of the villagers, Genom Tekseng submitted the consent documents to the Deputy Commissioner, while several residents also signed the consent authorisation during the meeting. During the interaction, the De...

  Upper Siang, March 1, 2026: In a significant development from the Siang region, residents of Ramku village under Geku Circle have unanimously declared collective non-consent to all Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) activities linked to the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project. The decision was taken during a two-day traditional council (Kebang) held recently. The historic Kebang witnessed participation from nearly all sections of the village community. Village council elders, customary leaders, farmers, women, and youth gathered in large numbers, with representatives from around 35 households engaging in detailed deliberations on the proposed mega dam and ongoing survey-related activities. Two Days of Deliberation According to community representatives, discussions focused on environmental, social, cultural, and land rights concerns arising from survey operations, data collection exercises, geological investigations, and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) processes associated with...

Lower Subansiri, March 1, 2026: On the eve of Hari-Bulla Myoko 2026 , the Tajang Lemba Welfare Committee (TLWC), Ziro , in Lower Subansiri district carried out a mass social service drive on Sunday with active participation from members and volunteers. The initiative was undertaken under the guidance of Shri Millo Tadu, ZPM 05-Tajang and Chief Patron of TLWC, and was led by Chairman Shri Misso Halley and General Secretary Shri Rubu Laji. During the drive, participants cleaned and cleared all drainage systems and undertook extensive sanitation work across the entire Tajang Lemba jurisdiction. The effort reflected a strong sense of unity, civic responsibility, and commitment to maintaining cleanliness and community wellbeing ahead of the upcoming festival. Photo: IPR Lower Subansiri  Hari-Bulla Myoko forms part of the traditional Myoko festival of the Apatani tribe , celebrated annually in Ziro Valley during the month of March. The festival symbolizes friendship, prosperity, fer...