Truck plunges into gorge

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 18: A driver died on the spot after a clinker-loaded truck fell into a deep gorge at Jowai in West Jaintia Hills District on Sunday midnight.

The body of Khrawkupar Phawa from Sohmynting village was recovered on Monday afternoon following efforts put in by the search and rescue team, police said.

The truck was coming from Lumshnong village in East Jaintia Hills. On reaching Wahgate at Jowai along the national highway, the truck lost control and hit a tyre shop before falling into the deep gorge, they said.

Fortunately, an employee of the tyre shop was not present in the shop when the incident took place.

Govt asked to spell out plans to address traffic problems

The Meghalaya High Court has directed the State to file an affidavit indicating the steps taken and proposed to be taken to ease the traffic congestion in Shillong City.

“The State’s affidavit should indicate the plans to be implemented over the next few months, those over the next few years and the long-term goals taking into consideration the rate of increase of private cars and vehicular traffic, the burgeoning tourism industry and the available space,” the division bench said in its order passed while hearing a PIL on the matter.

It said that several months back, the State had indicated that most of the parents of school-going children in the city had agreed to opt for their wards being ferried to schools by bus, provided the State government took the responsibility of running such service.

“Indeed, it was indicated that about 50 to 60 buses were being acquired for such purpose. However, nothing seems to have been implemented in such regard,” the Court added.

Further, the Court also said that there were other long-term and short-term plans which had been tentatively indicated, particularly following suggestions by the IIM, Shillong and by a foreign agency apparently engaged by the State for such purpose.

“Again, nothing appears to have come of it apart from a ropeway being planned, and that too, for tourism purposes,” it added.

The next hearing will be held on May 3.

Teen loses life in freak accident 

A 15-year-old boy lost his life and others were injured after a large tree fell on the shed of a house at Umling village in Ri Bhoi District.

Reportedly, the incident took place when the deceased was studying in a room with a few other family members, who were also present inside the house.

Following the incident, the deceased person and the injured were shifted to Civil Hospital Nongpoh for post-mortem and for medical treatment. However, the dead body was sent to his native village in Assam after all formalities were completed.

Dymbur pays tribute to U Tirot Sing

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 5:  “Dymbur”- a local Khasi folk metal band on Tuesday released its music video titled “U Tirot Sing -Unsung Hero”.

The song speaks about the freedom struggle led by the legendary freedom fighter U Tirot Sing Syiem against the British.

Speaking before the release of the music video, Dymbur co-founder Cornelius Kharsyntiew said that this is an important day for the band because of the support received from KSU to come up with this massive project.

Kharsyntiew said informed that Dymbur was formed in 2012 and in the earlier days, the band was a progressive band and its lyrics are always related to what is happening all around the world but the band switched from progressive metal to Khasi Folk metal in 2019 to take part in various competitions all round the world.

He added after switching from progressive metal to Khasi Folk metal, the band uses both traditional and Western instruments for music and in the earlier stage they received criticism as they were having difficulties in playing local traditional instruments but the band believes that music is universal.

“The idea of coming up with the song U Tirot Sing- Unsung Hero is to highlight the journey of our freedom fighter and we have seen many bands or artists who have contributed their music to U Tirot Sing Syiem but we have not seen any metal band from Meghalaya who have done the same hence we decided to contribute our song to our freedom fighter,” said Kharsyntiew.

Meanwhile, general secretary of the Khasi Student Union (KSU) Donald V Thabah said that the KSU has always lent support to anyone who has the talent to bring glory to the state be it businesses, music of any genre, sports, arts and culture or in any fields.

Thabah said that the KSU took the decision to lend support to Dymbur for this project as Dymbur is the first metal band to make a song about U Tirot Sing Syiem hence the KSU felt the need to lend support to this band as everyone knows Meghalaya does not have specific institute or schemes to help musicians.

“In Meghalaya, people are not aware of the date of birth of U Tirot Sing Syiem but people know about his death which is on July 17 and KSU has thought of releasing this music video on his death anniversary but the band felt it is too late hence we have decided to release today the 4th April as a mark of the awakening day for the Khasi community,” said Thabah.

Thabah said that this song by Dymbur will act as the vehicle to carry forward about the life of U Tirot Sing Syiem who was the king of the Khasi community and led a rebellion against the might of the East India Company or the then British empire.