Title: Assam's COVID Chronicles: A Comedy of Errors and 3,005 Cases In the grand theatre of the COVID-19 pandemic, Assam stands as a shining example of how not to stage a health crisis. With the first confirmed case reported on March 31, 2020, the state has taken on a role that can best be described as "the tragicomedy of errors." From enthusiastic attendees of a religious conference to the dramatic arrival of pilgrims from Ajmer, Assam has ensured that the audience stays riveted and bewildered. Let's begin our tale with the Tablighi Jamaat, the unlikely protagonists of this saga. Who knew that a religious conference in Delhi could morph into a statewide COVID conspiracy? Before you could say "super-spreader," 37 attendees and their close contacts had turned Assam into a hotspot. It’s as if the participants mistook their pilgrimage for a road trip. Exciting, right? "Look, Mom! I’m spreading faith and something a bit more contagious!" went the sentiment, as they returned from the capital without so much as a thought to inform the authorities. The sheer audacity of it all almost makes one wonder if they were secretly auditioning for a reality show about the consequences of negligence. Then came the Ajmer Sharif Dargah bus brigade – a group whose entrance into Silchar felt more like the arrival of a circus troupe than a health alert. Ten tested positive for coronavirus, and the usual quarantine protocols kicked in – sending the remaining members of the crew into isolation. Nothing says “spiritual journey” quite like a bus ride that ends with medical professionals armed with thermometers and masks instead of blessings and alms. One can only imagine the conversations on that bus: “What’s that? Social distancing? Never heard of it.” And who could forget the march of the migrant workers? Stranded across the nation, their return to Assam was marked not by joyous reunions, but by the clanking sound of COVID test kits and the soft rustle of quarantine forms. The state transformed into a gigantic waiting room where people exchanged pleasantries with an extra layer of PPE. If anything, they turned the unavoidable chaos into an art form, as positive cases emerged like surprise guests at a poorly planned wedding. “And here’s another one folks! A surprise breakthrough case from quarantine!” Frontline workers in Assam became rock stars in this tragicomic narrative. They took on the role of brave warriors battling the virus, only to become part of the statistics themselves. With 3,005 cases registered among Assam Police personnel alone, it is evident that even the bravest of souls were not immune to the pandemic punchline. One may even ponder the mental gymnastics involved when police officers, who should be responding to crises, find themselves queuing for testing. Let's face it, there’s nothing like fighting the virus while ensuring your own safety, right? It’s easy to critique from the sidelines – after all, who wouldn’t chuckle at the absurdity of it all? But in a state grappling with an influx of cases attributable to poor foresight, missed opportunities, and the occasional bus driver with no GPS, it becomes cringe-worthy comedy. From poor policymaking to lackadaisical reporting practices, the real punchline of “Assam's COVID Chronicles” rests not just in the number of cases but in the unintentional performance art we witnessed. As more and more cases emerged, the question lingered: Will Assam take this comedy of errors and turn it into a cautionary tale? Or will the next act involve another haphazard play, complete with mishaps, confusion, and continued humor? One can only watch, popcorn in hand, as Assam continues to pen its COVID Chronicles – a tragicomedy that keeps us both entertained and slightly horrified.