Latest news with #ManipurUniversity
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
New fish species found in Brahmaputra named after Dibrugarh
1 2 3 4 5 6 Dibrugarh: A team of scientists has discovered a new species of cyprinid fish in the Brahmaputra river at Maijan in Dibrugarh, further enriching the ichthyofaunal diversity of northeast's river systems. The species has been named 'Pethia dibrugarhensis', after its type locality. The discovery was made during a freshwater faunal survey of the Brahmaputra river, conducted by researchers from ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), regional centre, Guwahati; ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore; and Manipur University. The findings were recently published in the peer-reviewed international journal "National Academy Science Letters by Springer Nature". "This discovery highlights the incredible biodiversity that still remains to be explored in the Brahmaputra basin. Each new species we identify helps us better understand the complex aquatic ecosystems of northeast. Systematic surveys like this one are essential for documenting and protecting these species before they face threats from environmental changes," said Basanta Kumar Das, director of ICAR-CIFRI, who led the research. The research team included Niti Sharma and Simanku Borah from ICAR-CIFRI regional centre, Guwahati, in collaboration with freshwater taxonomist W Vishwanath and Pethia specialist M Dishma from Manipur University. Belonging to the family Cyprinidae, Pethia dibrugarhensis is classified as a barb. The species was found in moderately fast-running water with a substrate of mud, sand, and stones. It coexists with various small indigenous fish species native to the region. "The distinguishing features of this new species make it quite unique among its congeners. We identified it based on a combination of morphological traits including an incomplete lateral line, a prominent black blotch extending to both dorsal and ventral sides of the caudal peduncle, and the absence of humeral marks and barbels," Das added.
Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Manipur confirms first Covid case this year as university student tests positive
Manipur confirmed its first Covid case this year after a 23-year-old student tested positive for coronavirus, Health Services Director Dr Chambo Gonmei said on Tuesday. The Covid patient is a native of Ngaikhong Khullen in Bishnupur district and a master's student at Manipur University, Dr Gonmei said. Dr Gonmei said the 23-year-old woman's RT-PCR test returned positive on Monday. He said the patient was tested at a private clinic in Imphal on June 5 after developing Covid symptoms, including fever. However, she left Imphal for Hyderabad for her internship before knowing her Covid status. She has reportedly been staying in a rented apartment in Imphal West district. Dr Gonmei said the state Covid surveillance team was investigating the case. 'Our team has also reached out to the administration in Bishnupur, the native district of the patient, besides Imphal West. We have learned that she had been under home isolation after developing the symptoms,' he said. Dr Gonmei said that although it was waiting for a new advisory from the health ministry, the state health department had taken all the precautionary measures based on the earlier guidelines. Dr Gonmei said there was no need to panic. 'We are investigating the type of the variant. But the public need not panic, for the new strain is not as severe as the previous ones. Only patients with a poor immune system are more vulnerable,' he said. As per official sources, Manipur reported its previous Covid case on May 25, 2024. During the pandemic, 2,149 people died of Covid and over 1.40 lakh people tested positive for the virus in the state.
