Shillongites and tourists from across the country anticipating the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival will be disappointed, as Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, announced that all the festivals in the state, ongoing and upcoming, would be cancelled. An incident on November 22, 2022, at the Assam-Meghalaya border, led the state government to make this urgent decision. Read on to learn more about the current situation in the city.
Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival & Shillong Literary Festival Cancelled
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Considering the recent events, the state government announced that the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival & Shillong Literary Festival are cancelled. As per a notification by the Meghalaya Police, the internet services in the state have all been suspended temporarily. However, you can access the Internet via WIFI routers if you’re in the state. The Shillong Literary Festival began on Monday with much pump and gaiety. The festival was ongoing at the city’s Ward’s Lake, where the country’s prominent authors like Sanjoy Hazarika and entertainers like Rahul Bose had gathered. Following the border tension, the discussions and events within the city have been cancelled to prevent any untoward incident.
Messaging Systems Are Suspended, No Access To Social Media Platforms
Amid Cherry Blossom Festival in Shillong, Assam Police BAN movement of vehicles to Meghalaya following a firing incident along the Assam-Meghalaya border wherein three (3) Khasi and one (1) Assam Forest Guard were killed on Tuesday. https://t.co/HmjBHLKgzV pic.twitter.com/V7erTahvkL
— Jon Suante (@jon_suante) November 22, 2022
The government has also suspended all internet services to prevent the surfacing and circulation of any fake news, which might lead to unrest. This would mean that the social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube will not work. Therefore, if you’re anywhere in these districts – West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri — Bhoi, Eastern West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, and South West Khasi Hills Districts, it is likely that your internet might not work for another 48 hours.
Meanwhile, make sure you listen to your tour operators and plan your visit from the state accordingly.
Cover Image Courtesy: Twitter/@szarita/@Ankur_IIS