Alan Walker in Shillong, but not everyone made it
On Saturday, international DJ Alan Walker dropped some sick beats in Shillong, but not everyone got to experience the magic. Thousands rushed to the Lariti Performing Arts and Culture Centre in Mawdiangdiang for the much-hyped concert, but the Gordian knot of traffic, forced them to return back.
The roads were, as usual, completely chock-a-block. Areas around Polo, 4th Furlong, and Demsieniong became parking lots for frustrated concert-goers. Some poor souls never made it to the show, while others threw in the towel and settled for a night of Netflix instead.
Of course, in Shillong, this isn’t exactly news.. So, for those gearing up for the upcoming festivals this might be the perfect reminder to leave hours ahead of time… or maybe just camp outside the venue and save yourself the heartbreak of missing your favourite artist!
News naps on Sundays
It’s one of those dry news days in Shillong when everything feels like it’s moving in slow motion. Reporters across the city find themselves on an unofficial break, waiting for something to stir the pot, besides cow saviours. The evening deadlines loom, but until then, it’s a day of staring at blank pages and scrolling through the same old topics. The usual headlines about traffic jams, power cuts, and protests seem stale, leaving newsrooms unusually still.
The city itself seems to mirror this lull. In places like Police Bazar, the streets are quieter than expected, and the only sound cutting through the calm is the occasional clinking of teaspoons in coffee cups. Even with the festive season just around the corner, there’s little buzz to speak of.
Dry news days are common in Shillong, especially on Sundays, but they never stick around for long.
A friendly reminder to park right
Wheel clamps are often a dreaded sight for motorists. You might ask why? It’s the hassle of running down to the nearest police station to pay the fines, and of course, the fine itself.
The Shillong Traffic Police (STP) uses wheel clamps to enforce parking rules, including clamping vehicles parked in no-parking zones.
What comes as a surprise is that traffic police personnel aren’t the only ones clamping wheels in the city.
The village authorities in Lumdiengjri have taken on the task of ensuring that the already narrow lanes in their area aren’t clogged by errant motorists who park haphazardly. The Dorbar has its own wheel clamps, which they use to enforce parking rules.
One resident explained that when bikes and scooters are parked along the already congested roads, it prevents ambulances and fire tenders from entering the area during emergencies, when every second counts. “No Parking” signs are clearly displayed in select areas.
If the rules are violated, the village authorities are quick to clamp the vehicles. However, one might rush to the nearest police station, as the clamps look exactly like the ones used by the STP. The people including the Dorbar Shnong Lumdiengjri, however, are kind-hearted and allow violators to go without a fine the first time. But a second violation would lead to a fine.
How do we know? One of our Shillong Jottings members will not park at the same spot again, that’s how!