77-year-old braves inclement weather for his match ticket!
The football loving state that Meghalaya is, on top of that the North-east Derby is happening wherein the Lajongs have made it to the semi-finals. Who would want to miss a chance as such to not watch the match in the JN stadium? To secure the tickets, fans of all ages gathered outside the Soso Tham Auditorium, eager to secure their tickets. Among the crowd was a 77-year-old man, patiently standing in line under the warm sun, determined to get a ticket for his grandson who was keen on watching the big game.
Despite the heat and his age, the elderly gentleman held his place in the queue, never once wavering. He then caught the attention of a few media personnel, who were moved by the sight of him waiting so patiently. They quickly alerted a nearby policeman, who decided to lend a hand.
With the crowd cheering him on, the officer guided the man to the front of the line. As the ticket counter finally opened, he was the very first to secure a ticket—his success met with a burst of applause from those still waiting in line.
There was a deep respect among the crowd for the elderly man, who, with a broad smile on his face, proudly held up the ticket he had stood in line for to get. All he could say was, how happy his grandson would be.
His joy was infectious, spreading quickly through the queue, reminding everyone that some moments in life are truly worth the wait.
A footpath to make errands safer
A pressing issue needs to come to the forefront; one that endangers the lives of school children and residents, particularly in the Jhalupara, Mawbah, and Rilbong areas. The stretch from Jhalupara Taxi Stand to Lumdiengjri Police Station is bereft of a proper footpath, compelling pedestrians to navigate a perilous journey on a heavily trafficked road.
This route is a daily necessity for students from several schools including Arya Vidya Laya, Gorkha Pathsala, Ivy Green, Sunrise School, Nepali Kankya School, Madarsa School, and BBS College. Additionally, it serves as a vital link for local residents and those visiting numerous shops, banks, temples, and offices along the way.
This was brought to our attention by a concerned resident.
The mere absence of a footpath is not the only issue, he says. Shop owners aggravate the problem by blocking the narrow space available by unloading goods from lorries, and it gets worse as cab drivers indiscriminately stop to pick up passengers, particularly during peak school hours. Although traffic police regularly patrol the area, their focus seems limited to locking the wheels of unattended vehicles, overlooking the dangerous parking practices of drivers who are present at their vehicles.
The combination of no footpath and reckless parking practices is a disaster waiting to happen, the resident cautioned. The area has already witnessed several accidents, some tragically fatal. Many young children, often unaccompanied by adults, are forced to brave the chaos, putting their lives at risk as they attempt to dodge oncoming vehicles.