Dibrugarh

Dibrugarh is the headquarters of Dibrugarh District, Assam, India.

Dibrugarh is the third largest town after Guwahati,and Silchar in the state of Assam. It is situated on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, in Upper Assam, India, is the gateway to the three tea producing districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, and Sibsagar. These three areas account for approximately 50% of India's Assam tea crop and this gives Dibrugarh its rightly earned sobriquet as the Tea City of India. Oil and Timber are the other big two industries in and around Dibrugarh.

In 1950, the Medog earthquake measuring over 8.6 on the Richter Scale, changed the course of the Brahmaputra River, and this caused the destruction of more than 3/4ths of the city. The city has since then been rebuilt over the years, but the Brahmaputra River nearby is, as it always has been, a constant reminder to its people that live in its shadow, of its turbulence and all encompassing journey to the sea.

Geography

Dibrugarhis located at 27°29′N 94°54′E / 27.48°N 94.9°E / 27.48; 94.9.^[1] It has an average elevation of 94 metres (308 ft).

Demographics

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[2] Dibrugarh had a population of 122,523. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%.Dibrugarh has an average literacy rate of 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82% and, female literacy is 80%. In Dibrugarh, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Economy

Economic Activities in the district is dominated by two major industries, Oil & Natural Gas and Tea Production. It was in Digboi that first time oil well was dug during the British era. Duliajan, Hugrijan and Moran are the key locations for oil and gas industry in the district. Duliajan also happens to be the headquarter of the Public Sector Undetaking Oil India Limited. Apart from this Dibrugarh district boasts of the highest amount of tea produced in India. There are several tea gardens dating back to the British era.

Apart from this Dibrugarh has also been famous for wood & wood works, plywood factories in Margherita, cane and bamboo furnitures etc. Cottage industries specializing in production of Assam silk, phulam gamosa, mekhela chador are also in vogue.

Transport

Dibrugarh is shown as the easternmost railway Station on the map of the Indian Railways and is connected to some important Indian cities (Yesvantpur in Bangalore, Perambur in Chennai etc.) through a direct broad gauge rail network. The Rajdhani-Link Express (An extension of Rajdhani Express) also connects it to New-Delhi. Direct flights to destinations like Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati are available from Dibrugarh Airport (Mohanbari). There are long-distance luxury buses plying between important destinations withinin Assam and other neighbouring states, popularly known as Day-Super and Night-Super, depending on the time of operation.

Until the 1990s, transportation within the town was largely by buses and rickshaws. But recently auto rickshaws locally known as "vikram" have come up in a big way to help in within-the-town transportation.

Education

Dibrugarh is the education hub of upper Assam. With Kanoi College, Dibrugarh University, Assam Medical College, Salt Brook Academy and numerous other institutes of repute it is a major contributor to the education infrastructure in Assam.

The John Bery White Medical School established in 1898 was the first centre for formal medical education in India's North East. This institution (named after its founder) was upgraded to a Medical College on the 3rd of November 1947.

Healthcare

Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh, formerly known as Dr. John Berry White Medical School, was established in 1898. It has the distinction of being the first medical college in the entire North-eastern region of India. The establishment of this institution has been a catalyst in making the adjoining area near the medical college a hub of health care facilities and hospitals which rival the best in the north-eastern states. People from neighboring districts and states frequent Dibrugarh to avail the health care facilities in Assam Medical College and other private hospitals.

Politics

Dibrugarh is part of Dibrugarh (Lok Sabha constituency).^[3]

References

^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Dibrugarh
^ Template:GR
^ "List of Parliamentary & Assembly Constituencies" (PDF). Assam. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-10-06.