Assam’s Shivangi Sonowal becomes first Assamese woman Fire Engineer

In a field where women remain a rare sight and competition is fierce, Shivangi Sonowal from a small village in Assam's Tinsukia district has carved out a place in history. The young engineer from Dangari village has become the first Assamese woman to graduate as a Fire Engineer from the prestigious National Fire Service College (NFSC), Nagpur.
For Shivangi, the achievement is the culmination of four years of hard work, discipline and perseverance in one of the country's most demanding engineering programmes.
The daughter of Jitul Sonowal and Banti Sandikoi Sonowal, Shivangi grew up in Dangari, a village in Tinsukia district. While many students pursue conventional engineering streams, she chose a path few dare to take — Fire Engineering, a specialised discipline that combines engineering knowledge with fire safety, disaster management and emergency response.
Her journey began in 2022 when she qualified through the highly competitive JEE Main examination and secured admission to the National Fire Service College in Nagpur, an institution under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Admission to the programme is not based on academic merit alone. Candidates must also clear rigorous physical fitness and medical tests, reflecting the demanding nature of the profession.
Every year, only around 60 students from across India are selected for the programme. Among them, women usually number only three or four. According to reports, nearly 800 candidates had competed for admission when Shivangi secured her seat.
Over the next four years, she underwent intensive academic and practical training in fire prevention, firefighting technology, industrial safety and emergency management. The programme prepares students for officer-level positions in government and private fire and safety organisations across the country.
Her efforts paid off on May 29 when she was formally recognised as a Fire Engineer during the institution's convocation ceremony.
Sources at the National Fire Service College said Shivangi is the first Assamese woman to graduate as a Fire Engineer from the institute, making her achievement a landmark moment not only for her family but also for the state.
Adding another feather to her cap, Shivangi has already secured a job through campus placement. Family sources said she has signed an employment agreement with a gas-based company after being selected during the college's recruitment process.
Back home in Dangari, news of her achievement has sparked celebrations. Residents, community organisations and well-wishers have congratulated the young engineer, seeing her success as an inspiration for aspiring students, particularly young women looking to break barriers in unconventional professions.