KOHIMA, July 17: At least 53 people have died so far of viral diseases like malaria and typhoid in Changki village of Mokokchung district in Nagaland. Official sources said the Changki, Longjang and Longsa areas of Mokokchung district and Tizit area of Mon district were the worst affected areas where the epidemic was spreading fast. Similar types of viral fever were also reported from Wokha, Phek and Dimapur districts. But, the situation in Changki village was the most alarming where the diseases had taken an epidemic form. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 18, 1999)

GUWAHATI, July 17: The Asam Sahitya Sabha has invited entries from writers for its Ambikagiri Roychoudhury Award, Sitanath Brahmachaudhury Memorial Award and Mahananda Barua-Sashiprabha Barua Award for the current year. For the Ambikagiri Roychoudhury Award books written in Assamese on patriotism with a humane and creative literary touch and published between January 1, 1994 and December 31, 1998 will be treated as viable entries. The Sitanath Brahmachoudhury Memorial Award would be for books written on the unity of the Assamese society in Assamese language. The Mahananda Barua-Sashiprabha Barua Award is meant for short stories written by the writers below the age of 25 years. (Staff reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 18, 1999)

NEW DELHI, July 20 - In the face of a shrinking forest cover and rising incidents of poaching in Assam, the state government has urged the Centre to stand as guarantor for a Rs 330 crore loan assistance package sought from the World Bank to improve the forest infrastructure. The ambitious proposal submitted to the World Bank in 1997-98, envisages drastic changes in the functioning of the Forest department, including giving more teeth to its fighting arm - the state Forest Protection Force (FPF) to take on the heavily armed poachers. Delighted at the news that project stands a good chance of being funded by the World Bank, as it has sought a guarantee from the Central government, the state forest minister, Nagen Sarma called on the Union home minister LK Advani, seeking to remove the last hurdle. All World Bank-funded state projects require the Central government to stand as a guarantor. (Staff correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 21, 1999)

AIZAWL, July 21: The ruling Mizo National Front-Mizo People's Conference combine yesterday blamed the previous Congress Government for the increasing number of illegal foreigners in Mizoram. Answering a question in the state Assembly, home minister Tamnluia said the administration was finding it difficult to push illegal Chakma settlers back to Bangladesh as the previous Congress Government had encouraged Chakmas for political gains by providing them land and including their names in the electoral rolls. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 22, 1999)

AIZAWL, July 21 - Mizoram Government has identified and deported 448 Myanmarese nationals between December 1998 and June 1999, Home Minister Tawnluia told the State Assembly yesterday. Replying to supplementaries, Tawnluia said the State Government has taken up the village registration programme to verify the identity of each settler in the State and those found to be foreigners residing illegally would be tried and deported. He said the State Government has approached the Centre for formation of second battalion of Indian Reserve Police and one battalion of Prevention of Infiltration Force (PIF) to contain infiltration. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 22, 1999)

GUWAHATI, July 21: The flood situation in Assam on Wednesday remained critical as at least 10 districts with a population of nearly three lakh were affected. Officials said that nearly three lakh people of 800 villages in the districts of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Tinsukia, Nalbari, Barpeta, Dhubri, Kamrup, Darrang and Bongaigaon were affected by the rising waters of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. (PTI, Indian Express, July 22, 1999)

AGARTALA, July 21: The 687-year-old 'Kharchi' festival celebrating the unity and integrity between tribals and non-tribals began in Tripura yesterday. Thousands of devotees congregated to offer prayers at Khaerpur temple at Puratan Agartala, where the tribal priest called 'Chantai' offered first prayers to 14 idols. The week-long festival was inaugurated by Tripura Industries Minister Pabitra Kar, while Chief Minister Manik Sarkar greeted the people on the occasion. Elaborate security arrangements have been made in view of the festival. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 22, 1999)