Editor,
The much hyped Cherry Blossom Festival 2024 was on everyone’s bucket list for this year. With the performance of international superstars like Boney M and Akon, people were enthusiastic since the line-up was announced. The D-Day had come and everyone wanted to see a glimpse of their artists that they grew up listening to. And as usual if there is anything huge happening in Shillong, our ‘favourite’ accessories to travel with tags along, SIRENS and TRAFFIC.
The amount of sound from sirens travelling to Bhoirymbong could have been the main headliner of the day. When everyone wanted to go see their favourite artistes ended up sitting in the car for more than three hours just to reach the venue, our so-called ‘high-level’ sits comfortably in their cars with the siren in full action with no care in the world as long as they reach the festival on time.
The traffic started from Mawiong all the way to the venue. And to add to this, the ‘SIRENS’ followed and people had to make way despite the narrow roads that Shillong has. Is it our fault that roads are small? Or that we have given the VIPs to do as they please, while we sit and complain that this needs to stop. The unfortunate part of all of this is that a young soul lost his life because SIRENS are more important than human life. Where prominence is given more to people with red beams rather than saving the life of someone.
Yours etc.,
A concerned citizen
